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 Gambier, OH 43022

Gambier: median income $94,712, home value $315,900, $209/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Upland, IN 46989 82%164$82,074$219,400$125 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Cecil, PA 15321 81%116$117,656$348,700$198 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents
Valparaiso, FL 32580 77%720$91,645$394,700$257 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents · more renters
Sugar City, ID 83448 75%1,513$76,000$381,900$234 pricier homes ($66K more) · more renters · newer homes
Sewanee, TN 37375 74%406$71,204$366,700$251 pricier homes ($51K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Congerville, IL 61729 74%358$101,172$259,100— cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older residents
Lewiston, UT 84320 74%1,530$103,810$380,200$213 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents
Athens, WV 24712 73%217$80,625$213,800$167 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 9 min longer commute
Spring Arbor, MI 49283 73%169$108,464$218,400$172 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older residents
Mount Vernon, IA 52314 73%482$109,244$265,100$177 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older residents
Genesee, ID 83832 73%1,769$91,250$352,800$219 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · older residents
Bridgewater, VA 22812 72%227$85,941$366,900$206 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · older residents
Spencerville, IN 46788 72%147$101,553$285,200$187 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Wilson, TX 79381 72%1,171$97,625$228,300$179 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · older residents
Hyrum, UT 84319 72%1,531$89,189$425,200$195 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · older residents
Henniker, NH 03242 71%577$95,206$356,700$258 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Pattersonville, NY 12137 71%459$83,879$271,500$231 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents
Saint Marys, KS 66536 71%730$85,568$224,600$151 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750 70%410$107,917$449,300$242 pricier homes ($133K more) · older residents
Denver, IA 50622 70%539$95,089$254,100$144 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Kalona, IA 52247 70%492$91,450$298,900$151 larger · older residents
Kindred, ND 58051 70%849$107,396$331,100$241 smaller · older residents
Garden Plain, KS 67050 70%840$86,875$308,800$170 smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Yutan, NE 68073 70%734$112,460$263,400$148 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Elon, NC 27244 69%334$75,323$278,000$174 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · newer 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.