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 Lake City, AR 72437

Lake City: median income $60,714, home value $160,300, $133/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Upton, KY 42784 94%276$68,699$178,100$153 Very close on everything we compare
Cowarts, AL 36321 93%435$64,267$177,700$152 Very close on everything we compare
Steens, MS 39766 93%196$65,707$162,700— Very close on everything we compare
Cass Lake, MN 56633 93%825$67,981$166,400$105 larger
Granby, MO 64844 93%226$63,382$126,900$132 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Colbert, OK 74733 93%369$65,875$162,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Towson, OK 74735 93%298$57,986$156,500$116 smaller
Roland, OK 74954 93%231$58,397$157,500$124 larger
Hartford, AL 36344 92%425$60,377$173,500$140 larger · older homes
Bells, TN 38006 92%77$70,047$172,700$144 larger
Piffard, NY 14533 91%826$68,170$184,900$138 smaller
Marionville, MO 65705 91%196$61,000$166,800$116 larger
Lone Grove, OK 73443 91%403$58,906$184,500$135 more apartments and townhomes
Marietta, OK 73448 91%400$61,071$165,200$163 larger
Morris, OK 74445 91%302$67,875$189,700$123 pricier homes ($29K more)
Little River Academy, TX 76554 91%520$75,500$177,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Palmyra, ME 04965 90%1,268$60,543$154,900$135 Very close on everything we compare
Star, NC 27356 90%599$55,347$164,400$152 Very close on everything we compare
Dalzell, SC 29040 90%578$65,978$162,100$161 larger
North Lewisburg, OH 43060 90%482$62,014$170,300$178 older residents
Oakwood, OH 45873 90%489$62,162$159,700$118 Very close on everything we compare
Wilson, MI 49896 90%699$56,167$164,800$163 smaller · older residents
Crocker, MO 65452 90%178$60,350$130,500$130 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes
Conway, MO 65632 90%175$57,656$212,400$160 pricier homes ($52K more)
Purdy, MO 65734 90%205$56,744$197,200$131 pricier homes ($37K more) · 5 min shorter commute

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.