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 Boling, TX 77420

Boling: median income $67,697, home value $226,400, $104/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Volant, PA 16156 93%1,204$69,054$221,400— larger · older residents
Pembroke, KY 42266 90%720$71,250$230,200$119 newer homes
Glasford, IL 61533 90%856$73,051$156,200$108 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Russellville, MO 65074 90%670$74,464$178,800$128 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 90%689$79,990$225,700$107 older residents
Sublette, KS 67877 90%636$66,492$187,000$141 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Akron, IN 46910 89%987$69,226$204,200$123 Very close on everything we compare
Casnovia, MI 49318 89%1,118$81,591$240,600$90 Very close on everything we compare
Cashton, WI 54619 89%1,042$71,463$230,200$149 larger
Blanchard, MI 49310 88%1,156$64,420$177,700$145 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Verndale, MN 56481 88%1,193$73,295$167,700$141 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Plato, MO 65552 88%611$63,894$189,000$118 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 87%1,078$78,824$222,900$128 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Olivet, MI 49076 87%1,100$74,440$200,600$133 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Inwood, IA 51240 87%971$83,929$232,600$123 Very close on everything we compare
Divernon, IL 62530 87%798$82,188$160,100$104 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Jasper, MO 64755 87%567$77,643$158,200$127 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Cairo, NE 68824 87%825$77,989$219,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Loganton, PA 17747 86%1,327$71,731$208,000$176 larger
Beavertown, PA 17813 86%1,324$64,792$189,300$97 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Rossville, IN 46065 86%935$80,104$216,300$133 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Primghar, IA 51245 86%955$69,531$149,700$97 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Grove City, MN 56243 86%1,101$71,528$178,900$126 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Velva, ND 58790 86%1,327$83,233$224,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Pearl City, IL 61062 86%962$66,667$196,900$93 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes

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.