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 Hamilton, NY 13346

Hamilton: median income $60,600, home value $214,600, $181/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedarville, OH 45314 80%478$84,844$313,400$188 pricier homes ($99K more)
Hancock, MI 49930 78%702$72,314$214,000$143 older residents
Upland, IN 46989 75%539$82,074$219,400$125 6 min longer commute
Colby, KS 67701 75%1,343$70,250$177,300— cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Ada, OH 45810 74%449$63,451$167,900$138 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Winona Lake, IN 46590 74%539$82,188$274,500$152 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents · newer homes
Wayne, NE 68787 73%1,091$60,275$230,700— more renters
Lamoni, IA 50140 72%959$57,443$121,900— cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · older residents
Orange City, IA 51041 72%1,035$83,643$277,000$141 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents
Platteville, WI 53818 72%757$55,567$236,700$157 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Kutztown, PA 19530 71%159$71,554$292,500$184 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Fruitland, MD 21826 71%311$64,946$223,100$183 older residents · newer homes
Fort Branch, IN 47648 71%705$65,000$213,000$168 older residents
Volga, SD 57071 71%1,072$77,138$246,000— pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · older residents
Wilberforce, OH 45384 70%483$67,019$145,900— cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Elsah, IL 62028 70%817$72,031$170,900$126 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · less walkable
Kirksville, MO 63501 70%899$60,729$168,200$114 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents
Hays, KS 67601 70%1,268$61,417$227,300$133 larger · older residents
Chadron, NE 69337 70%1,385$54,306$163,800— cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents · more renters
Kalamazoo, MI 49008 69%514$74,943$218,200$163 larger · older residents
Big Rapids, MI 49307 69%503$60,358$187,800$157 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Morris, MN 56267 69%1,024$74,442$236,800$133 older residents · more renters
Grove City, PA 16127 68%260$72,429$213,700$191 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Greensboro, NC 27403 68%520$57,917$249,200$186 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Stevens Point, WI 54481 68%709$59,545$201,000$168 larger · older residents · more renters

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.