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 Detroit, TX 75436

Detroit: median income $90,043, home value $201,400, $50/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middletown, MO 63359 86%433$75,227$160,200— cheaper homes ($41K less)
Fruithurst, AL 36262 85%563$68,611$155,600— cheaper homes ($46K less)
Marysville, IN 47141 85%634$108,523$222,700— smaller · older residents
Smithville, AR 72466 85%280$79,808$165,100$43 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · younger residents
Olympia, KY 40358 84%714$92,143$220,000— smaller · younger residents
West Sunbury, PA 16061 83%983$74,464$197,400— older residents
Worden, MT 59088 83%1,090$90,625$234,300— pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Cottageville, WV 25239 82%828$80,446$159,100— cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners
Saxe, VA 23967 81%962$73,264$117,500— cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Morrisville, MO 65710 80%282$77,865$231,000— pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Stringer, MS 39481 79%369$61,458$166,300— lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 79%382$78,958$186,300— 9 min shorter commute
Siloam, NC 27047 78%849$71,146$214,500— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Pineland, SC 29934 78%820$88,397$174,200— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mathiston, MS 39752 78%352$78,750$127,200— cheaper homes ($74K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Jerusalem, OH 43747 78%891$77,115$218,800$87 smaller
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 78%359$87,431$283,100— pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Monterey, LA 71354 78%256$87,059$120,100— cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Farina, IL 62838 77%508$82,976$133,300$63 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · older residents
Newport, NY 13416 76%1,273$85,128$185,500$80 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Thornton, WV 26440 76%936$92,824$216,800— smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Millport, AL 35576 76%405$72,292$120,800— cheaper homes ($81K less) · older homes
Collinsville, MS 39325 76%376$88,112$178,000— larger · 9 min shorter commute
Freeport, OH 43973 76%892$72,600$158,100$31 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Prosperity, PA 15329 75%936$92,917$237,500— pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 10 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.