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 Sparkman, AR 71763

Sparkman: median income $73,438, home value $86,800, $55/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Noxapater, MS 39346 91%225$62,439$99,600— Very close on everything we compare
Noble, IL 62868 91%420$61,645$116,300— pricier homes ($30K more)
Weedville, PA 15868 90%934$70,395$112,200— pricier homes ($25K more)
Alex, OK 73002 90%289$69,808$105,600$66 younger residents
Alum Creek, WV 25003 89%686$64,631$114,900— pricier homes ($28K more)
Clayton, IL 62324 89%434$76,903$96,600$57 older homes
Tamaroa, IL 62888 89%355$66,136$112,500$74 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hinsdale, NY 14743 88%970$57,244$94,500$69 Very close on everything we compare
Baxter, KY 40806 88%575$59,837$99,700$39 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, KY 42021 88%294$56,477$94,800$71 Very close on everything we compare
Malone, FL 32445 87%492$61,336$104,800$62 larger
Newville, AL 36353 87%470$66,318$121,300$77 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Kinmundy, IL 62854 87%403$63,587$101,500$67 younger residents
Dongola, IL 62926 87%317$64,583$113,300$86 pricier homes ($27K more)
Dilliner, PA 15327 86%817$70,296$118,100— pricier homes ($31K more)
Bardwell, KY 42023 86%297$63,229$118,100$66 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Shinglehouse, PA 16748 85%971$61,250$104,000$71 larger
Grampian, PA 16838 85%920$57,917$118,400— pricier homes ($32K more)
Clay City, IL 62824 85%413$61,591$102,100$85 Very close on everything we compare
Laneville, TX 75667 85%179$61,065$105,400$73 6 min longer commute
Munnsville, NY 13409 84%1,121$72,333$137,300— pricier homes ($51K more)
Stony Creek, VA 23882 84%891$63,030$155,000$65 pricier homes ($68K more)
Montezuma, IN 47862 84%507$65,625$108,800$86 older homes
Sumner, IL 62466 84%433$78,250$98,700— larger · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Franklin, IL 62638 84%423$86,538$130,100$61 pricier homes ($43K more)

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.