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 Melber, KY 42069

Melber: median income $48,929, home value $208,500, $111/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rosebush, MI 48878 88%512$57,656$150,300$92 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Frohna, MO 63748 88%72$59,478$177,000$100 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Orland, IN 46776 87%384$54,801$208,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
Paint Rock, TX 76866 84%739$56,429$163,100— cheaper homes ($45K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Transfer, PA 16154 83%540$57,870$167,000$106 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Fisk, MO 63940 83%82$53,378$143,800$85 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 6 min longer commute
Brockport, PA 15823 82%616$51,125$146,100— cheaper homes ($62K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Montrose, IA 52639 81%287$68,625$163,800$103 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Laona, WI 54541 81%597$63,438$193,800$104 6 min longer commute
Payson, IL 62360 81%242$54,706$147,500$111 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 7 min longer commute
Center, MO 63436 81%235$56,808$175,500$120 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Kinde, MI 48445 80%572$51,645$121,600— cheaper homes ($87K less) · older homes
Harrisville, MI 48740 80%604$54,393$155,800$133 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · older residents
Hillman, MI 49746 80%616$47,432$164,400$125 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Green Ridge, MO 65332 80%282$66,750$243,500$146 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Ione, WA 99139 80%1,652$52,404$274,100$143 pricier homes ($66K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Alum Bank, PA 15521 79%592$53,947$209,700$158 9 min longer commute
Snover, MI 48472 79%548$61,000$159,400$94 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · older homes
Deford, MI 48729 79%540$60,776$211,700$132 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Falmouth, MI 49632 79%543$46,696$151,000$171 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Island Falls, ME 04747 78%1,228$56,795$120,200$111 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Mehoopany, PA 18629 78%748$59,464$222,500$87 7 min longer commute · more renters
Grimsley, TN 38565 78%213$51,635$196,600$199 newer homes
Rossburg, OH 45362 78%322$61,687$231,500$152 more apartments and townhomes
Almena, WI 54805 78%611$59,643$189,100$128 younger 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.