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 Brusly, LA 70719

Brusly: median income $105,522, home value $233,100, $163/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spring Arbor, MI 49283 92%897$108,464$218,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Shallowater, TX 79363 91%668$96,128$210,100$191 older residents
Thatcher, AZ 85552 91%1,100$88,454$290,900$194 pricier homes ($58K more)
Baltic, SD 57003 90%970$111,932$281,500$194 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Hobbs, NM 88242 90%720$90,000$260,200$198 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Mooreville, MS 38857 89%310$93,021$190,000$168 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Middlebury, IN 46540 89%839$96,615$313,700$159 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Epworth, IA 52045 89%833$91,667$263,500$141 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Dieterich, IL 62424 89%619$84,635$225,800$142 smaller
Caledonia, MS 39740 88%286$83,240$189,900$143 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Nashport, OH 43830 88%843$88,346$234,100$186 Very close on everything we compare
Anna, OH 45302 88%797$91,602$242,300$178 more single-family homes
Elk Mound, WI 54739 88%1,001$88,667$260,400$180 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Mount Vernon, TX 75457 88%302$83,916$249,800$178 older residents
Hallsville, TX 75650 88%243$97,596$197,200$179 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Moundville, AL 35474 87%277$87,933$206,000$145 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Moxee, WA 98936 87%1,913$99,280$364,700$205 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger
Womelsdorf, PA 19567 86%1,091$91,458$250,600$168 older residents · older homes
Woodburn, KY 42170 86%522$96,111$291,700$114 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Coopersville, MI 49404 86%923$86,096$295,100$195 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older residents
Carlisle, IA 50047 86%777$106,389$250,100$205 older homes
Medford, MN 55049 86%959$90,625$247,800$166 smaller · older residents
Watertown, MN 55388 86%1,017$99,375$356,900$191 pricier homes ($124K more)
Capron, IL 61012 86%842$98,594$172,000$172 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Tolono, IL 61880 86%684$85,536$227,900$147 older residents

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.