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 Viola, AR 72583

Viola: median income $40,625, home value $133,700, $176/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sardis, TN 38371 93%217$45,714$130,000$154 Very close on everything we compare
Dennis, MS 38838 92%248$46,528$136,100— 5 min shorter commute
Flemington, MO 65650 91%125$50,194$120,000$195 Very close on everything we compare
Kimmell, IN 46760 90%489$46,992$165,300$123 pricier homes ($32K more)
Kermit, WV 25674 89%539$38,495$101,900— cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Duck Hill, MS 38925 89%236$41,217$123,400— Very close on everything we compare
Red Oak, OK 74563 89%201$44,063$108,200$216 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Tuskahoma, OK 74574 89%218$39,896$134,500$198 older residents
Spencer, VA 24165 88%664$49,250$120,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Payne, AL 35968 88%374$43,539$122,400$152 larger
Yuma, TN 38390 88%205$48,021$136,300$225 5 min shorter commute
Whittemore, MI 48770 88%692$49,957$105,500$133 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Mill Run, PA 15464 87%723$46,250$119,500$171 older residents
Williamsville, MO 63967 87%92$42,048$104,400$153 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Melville, LA 71353 87%396$37,405$118,300— 7 min longer commute
Soper, OK 74759 87%265$54,219$133,500— Very close on everything we compare
Avery, TX 75554 87%253$46,750$166,900$138 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Copan, OK 74022 86%220$46,538$114,700$146 older residents
Depew, OK 74028 86%255$46,500$179,100$153 pricier homes ($45K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Welling, OK 74471 86%164$45,948$156,700$178 6 min shorter commute
Lyerly, GA 30730 85%396$47,760$127,800$102 larger
Ider, AL 35981 85%375$45,556$152,200— larger · older residents
Atwood, TN 38220 85%190$46,791$103,900$136 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Union Church, MS 39668 85%330$39,040$110,900— Very close on everything we compare
Hodgen, OK 74939 85%187$47,778$153,000— 6 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.