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 Ostrander, OH 43061

Ostrander: median income $157,568, home value $400,300, $229/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alto, MI 49302 93%211$134,722$400,700$216 larger
New Kent, VA 23124 91%379$132,060$398,600$231 lower income ($26K less) · newer homes
North Prairie, WI 53153 91%325$152,543$430,100$271 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Elko New Market, MN 55020 91%595$131,071$455,500$211 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($55K more)
Burlington, CT 06013 90%544$165,120$418,700$252 larger · older homes
Colgate, WI 53017 90%329$153,917$521,700$221 pricier homes ($121K more)
Lincoln University, PA 19352 89%388$165,365$473,200$225 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
White Marsh, MD 21162 89%365$157,813$451,600$216 pricier homes ($51K more)
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 89%183$134,115$339,900$207 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older homes
Roca, NE 68430 89%706$145,729$468,900$233 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Pittsboro, IN 46167 88%175$122,723$328,600$169 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less)
Van Meter, IA 50261 88%566$155,278$374,100$294 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Elko New Market, MN 55054 88%595$157,096$433,100$196 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cologne, MN 55322 88%622$124,861$426,200$181 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($26K more)
Mantorville, MN 55955 88%555$132,524$405,700$240 lower income ($25K less) · smaller
Berkley, MA 02779 87%640$144,205$511,200$328 pricier homes ($111K more)
Mickleton, NJ 08056 87%422$171,389$473,400$223 pricier homes ($73K more) · more walkable
Eads, TN 38028 87%500$151,389$463,600$210 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · older residents
Fisherville, KY 40023 87%188$144,635$497,800$184 pricier homes ($98K more) · older residents · newer homes
Hanover, MN 55341 87%629$157,071$450,300$195 pricier homes ($50K more)
Saint Bonifacius, MN 55375 87%624$130,893$425,700$178 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($25K more)
Clancy, MT 59634 87%1,498$129,891$553,900$264 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($154K more)
Saint Jacob, IL 62281 87%368$132,000$308,900$174 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Lone Jack, MO 64070 87%591$130,364$370,400$207 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Monroeville, NJ 08343 86%428$141,842$344,400$221 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents · older 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.