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 Smithville, AR 72466

Smithville: median income $79,808, home value $165,100, $43/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middletown, MO 63359 94%208$75,227$160,200— Very close on everything we compare
Saxe, VA 23967 89%704$73,264$117,500— cheaper homes ($48K less)
Siloam, NC 27047 85%596$71,146$214,500— pricier homes ($49K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Falkner, MS 38629 85%157$69,135$122,700— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Detroit, TX 75436 85%280$90,043$201,400$50 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Fruithurst, AL 36262 84%367$68,611$155,600— older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Stringer, MS 39481 84%315$61,458$166,300— older residents
Olympia, KY 40358 84%439$92,143$220,000— pricier homes ($55K more)
Atlantic, PA 16111 83%700$70,074$162,300— 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Mathiston, MS 39752 82%214$78,750$127,200— cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Worden, MT 59088 81%1,110$90,625$234,300— pricier homes ($69K more)
Apple Springs, TX 75926 81%398$65,833$130,400— cheaper homes ($35K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Buskirk, NY 12028 80%1,059$96,891$247,700— pricier homes ($83K more)
Mantee, MS 39751 80%206$74,226$95,000— cheaper homes ($70K less)
Lovely, KY 41231 80%504$60,875$136,400— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Minford, OH 45653 80%500$82,125$176,100— larger · 9 min shorter commute
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 80%160$87,431$283,100— pricier homes ($118K more)
Aaronsburg, PA 16820 79%817$83,900$263,600— pricier homes ($99K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Ballard, WV 24918 79%589$63,594$140,800— younger residents
Peytona, WV 25154 79%546$67,243$106,900— cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents · older homes
Loami, IL 62661 79%259$80,833$180,300— 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Cottageville, WV 25239 78%552$80,446$159,100— older residents · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Baisden, WV 25608 78%528$82,961$117,700— cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Thornton, WV 26440 78%660$92,824$216,800— pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents
Frost, TX 76641 78%421$81,094$166,300$85 larger

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.