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 Cherokee Village, AR 72529

Cherokee Village: median income $37,355, home value $94,700, $115/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thayer, MO 65791 86%16$42,470$100,500$104 Very close on everything we compare
Marlinton, WV 24954 84%642$37,899$144,000$109 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Johnston City, IL 62951 82%178$50,657$99,700$97 Very close on everything we compare
Ronceverte, WV 24970 80%618$44,118$120,800$190 pricier homes ($26K more)
Rose City, MI 48654 80%682$45,202$140,800$145 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · older residents
Oscoda, MI 48750 80%707$45,561$119,200$171 larger
Evart, MI 49631 80%620$47,174$132,300$148 pricier homes ($38K more)
Shelbina, MO 63468 80%236$45,882$100,600$91 smaller · younger residents
Millinocket, ME 04462 78%1,348$51,527$112,900$135 older homes
Rutherford, TN 38369 78%142$50,417$105,300$107 smaller · younger residents
Shaw, MS 38773 78%191$30,661$110,400— smaller · more apartments and townhomes
South Shore, KY 41175 78%499$42,419$101,800$91 younger residents
Mio, MI 48647 78%696$47,281$111,800$121 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Saint Helen, MI 48656 78%671$47,750$112,900$160 7 min longer commute
Clarence, MO 63437 78%241$36,786$87,200$120 smaller · younger residents
Rawlings, MD 21557 77%722$34,936$123,300$148 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · younger residents
Gate City, VA 24251 77%496$44,505$159,100$115 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · younger residents
Crab Orchard, WV 25827 77%575$41,198$125,600$135 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Moss Point, MS 39563 77%441$44,243$110,300$95 larger · younger residents
Weir, MS 39772 77%246$44,318$91,700— smaller · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Hyden, KY 41749 77%453$34,934$80,300— smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Rogers City, MI 49779 77%746$53,465$124,000$79 pricier homes ($29K more) · older homes
Galena, KS 66739 77%181$52,289$83,000$108 younger residents
East Millinocket, ME 04430 76%1,353$42,011$86,200$88 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Independence, VA 24348 76%576$44,829$155,500$173 pricier homes ($61K more) · 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.