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 Holden, WV 25625

Holden: median income $90,417, home value $117,700, $109/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minto, ND 58261 85%1,051$78,864$119,000— younger residents · less walkable
Oreana, IL 62554 85%393$95,625$152,600$122 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Lisbon, NY 13658 82%592$69,055$110,700$98 larger · less walkable
Dexter, KY 42036 82%348$97,904$119,500$147 less walkable
Dalton City, IL 61925 82%385$81,316$133,200$122 more renters
Garyville, LA 70051 82%727$87,888$169,900$115 pricier homes ($52K more) · 7 min longer commute
Winthrop, NY 13697 81%608$75,953$128,100$103 more renters · less walkable
Victor, IA 52347 81%606$78,482$144,700$85 pricier homes ($27K more) · older homes
Mellen, WI 54546 81%732$70,104$141,900$85 older homes
Indiahoma, OK 73552 81%954$85,500$152,900— pricier homes ($35K more) · 7 min longer commute
Amboy, IN 46911 80%283$95,122$209,300$135 pricier homes ($92K more)
Knoxville, IL 61448 80%488$82,500$146,100$116 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Almond, NY 14804 79%384$83,173$123,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Stryker, OH 43557 79%282$84,950$158,900$104 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · younger residents
Cloverdale, OH 45827 79%252$85,400$203,300$88 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Swayzee, IN 46986 79%274$79,438$162,600$112 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Sidney, IA 51652 79%753$82,200$134,800$165 more renters · older homes
Badger, MN 56714 79%1,032$70,962$157,100— pricier homes ($39K more)
Greenbush, MN 56726 79%1,031$71,667$164,200$98 pricier homes ($47K more)
Neoga, IL 62447 79%360$87,292$154,400$151 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Ashland, IL 62612 79%455$69,569$113,400$98 Very close on everything we compare
Hershey, NE 69143 79%1,036$90,625$197,900$105 pricier homes ($80K more) · more renters
Elwell, MI 48832 78%411$73,393$163,700$103 pricier homes ($46K more) · less walkable
Graettinger, IA 51342 78%762$84,866$108,900$98 more renters · older homes
Eland, WI 54427 78%610$83,958$189,800$134 pricier homes ($72K more) · 5 min longer 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.