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 Ash Flat, AR 72513

Ash Flat: median income $40,055, home value $98,100, $137/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thayer, MO 65791 93%22$42,470$100,500$104 larger
Ronceverte, WV 24970 91%626$44,118$120,800$190 Very close on everything we compare
Atkins, VA 24311 90%570$48,516$93,100$117 smaller
Marlinton, WV 24954 90%650$37,899$144,000$109 pricier homes ($46K more)
Talihina, OK 74571 89%215$41,105$125,400$142 pricier homes ($27K more)
Aurora, NC 27806 88%834$45,809$117,000$181 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, TN 38260 88%138$49,139$122,000$135 younger residents
Viper, KY 41774 88%475$47,083$100,300— Very close on everything we compare
Winona, MO 65588 88%58$44,500$155,900$158 pricier homes ($58K more)
Johnston City, IL 62951 87%187$50,657$99,700$97 larger
Shaw, MS 38773 86%187$30,661$110,400— Very close on everything we compare
Hyden, KY 41749 86%460$34,934$80,300— Very close on everything we compare
Burnside, KY 42519 86%397$41,964$136,200$113 pricier homes ($38K more) · 6 min longer commute
Horse Cave, KY 42749 86%326$45,500$142,200$152 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more renters
Oscoda, MI 48750 86%716$45,561$119,200$171 larger
Evart, MI 49631 86%628$47,174$132,300$148 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Independence, VA 24348 85%583$44,829$155,500$173 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Jeffersonville, GA 31044 85%528$35,152$98,300$111 more apartments and townhomes
Bridgeport, AL 35740 85%344$46,148$141,900$134 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Hampton, TN 37658 85%527$37,995$110,800$176 7 min longer commute
De Kalb, MS 39328 85%293$42,930$95,400— larger · younger residents
Austin, IN 47102 85%365$41,583$129,900$129 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Labadieville, LA 70372 85%443$40,659$105,200$119 7 min longer commute
Decaturville, TN 38329 84%202$53,052$143,500$143 pricier homes ($45K more)
South Shore, KY 41175 84%507$42,419$101,800$91 larger · younger 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.