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 Ford, WA 99013

Ford: median income $49,518, home value $214,000, $218/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Corapeake, NC 27926 93%2,220$57,333$231,300$217 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, TN 37012 92%1,808$49,265$237,600$204 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland City, TN 37050 92%1,724$56,927$210,000$192 Very close on everything we compare
Coalmont, TN 37313 89%1,853$43,218$161,800— cheaper homes ($52K less)
Beechgrove, TN 37018 87%1,818$63,091$196,700$187 larger · older residents
Felicity, OH 45120 86%1,789$50,446$210,000$186 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Leasburg, MO 65535 86%1,492$56,660$139,500$173 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Celeste, TX 75423 86%1,510$59,375$252,900$199 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Tracy City, TN 37387 84%1,855$46,944$163,800$194 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Whitleyville, TN 38588 84%1,805$44,583$209,200$222 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Cadet, MO 63630 84%1,519$52,482$149,800$152 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Murchison, TX 75778 84%1,576$57,589$154,900$204 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Cub Run, KY 42729 83%1,756$54,706$189,200$196 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Urbana, MO 65767 83%1,420$52,708$200,600$151 older residents
Warrensville, NC 28693 82%1,995$62,596$171,800$228 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Shady Dale, GA 31085 82%2,028$46,375$116,100$200 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Lobelville, TN 37097 82%1,742$50,658$134,300$235 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · older residents
Luttrell, TN 37779 82%1,905$51,357$162,900$185 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older residents
Mount Nebo, WV 26679 81%1,965$53,459$164,900$179 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more single-family homes
Traphill, NC 28685 81%2,025$46,406$123,200$312 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Deer Lodge, TN 37726 81%1,857$66,875$178,000$197 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Whitesburg, TN 37891 81%1,930$47,288$174,900$181 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Stringer, MS 39481 81%1,860$61,458$166,300— cheaper homes ($48K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Orwell, OH 44076 81%1,850$52,500$162,800$164 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older homes
Milford, TX 76670 81%1,541$60,104$216,900$136 5 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.