OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Purdy, MO 65734

Purdy: median income $56,744, home value $197,200, $131/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Berryville, AR 72616 91%37$52,077$202,800$143 larger
Scottsdale, AZ 85256 91%1,037$44,844$190,500— Very close on everything we compare
Ivanhoe, CA 93235 91%1,400$52,083$229,200$156 pricier homes ($32K more) · more renters
Holmesville, OH 44633 90%698$64,688$215,200— smaller
Dorchester, WI 54425 90%596$63,424$175,000$101 smaller
Cass Lake, MN 56633 90%729$67,981$166,400$105 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Lake City, AR 72437 90%205$60,714$160,300$133 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min longer commute
Manila, AR 72442 90%218$56,221$166,300$161 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lone Grove, OK 73443 90%262$58,906$184,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
George West, TX 78022 90%635$55,895$171,100$127 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Belleville, PA 17004 89%909$65,068$206,900$162 older homes
West Point, GA 31833 89%569$61,348$172,200$143 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Fennimore, WI 53809 89%461$65,568$192,500$127 older homes
Colby, WI 54421 89%591$60,820$194,500$114 older residents
Jackson, SC 29831 88%725$53,790$177,100$134 older residents
Bells, TN 38006 88%280$70,047$172,700$144 older residents
Science Hill, KY 42553 88%512$52,737$154,500$165 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Hanover, IN 47243 88%479$65,197$183,900$181 larger
Eastaboga, AL 36260 87%500$73,007$160,900$157 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Hartford, AL 36344 87%614$60,377$173,500$140 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Hicksville, OH 43526 87%581$66,912$168,400$117 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older homes
Fresno, OH 43824 87%700$54,757$183,700— 6 min longer commute
New York Mills, MN 56567 87%678$72,500$215,300$132 older residents
Marietta, OK 73448 87%268$61,071$165,200$163 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Roland, OK 74954 87%100$58,397$157,500$124 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more renters

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.