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 Plain City, OH 43064

Plain City: median income $139,591, home value $461,900, $230/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rogers, MN 55374 97%630$144,714$462,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Lees Summit, MO 64082 97%599$131,453$411,700$193 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Avondale, PA 19311 95%398$155,771$540,800$197 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 95%356$136,188$570,200$296 pricier homes ($108K more)
Union, KY 41091 95%111$136,307$399,500$193 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Bogart, GA 30622 94%426$133,563$397,700$221 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Apex, NC 27539 93%387$145,947$565,600$237 pricier homes ($104K more)
Kansas City, MO 64157 93%597$149,526$386,400$198 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Pike Road, AL 36064 92%559$119,853$380,800$172 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Hugo, MN 55038 92%604$130,931$422,800$201 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Eureka, MO 63025 92%408$125,676$391,500$181 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Gretna, NE 68028 92%684$143,604$407,400$177 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 91%428$157,009$488,100$252 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 91%361$141,711$433,900$228 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Fortville, IN 46040 91%137$147,500$435,700$168 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46814 91%125$147,280$399,300$167 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Carver, MN 55315 91%619$140,893$453,000$208 smaller
Prior Lake, MN 55372 91%607$145,499$467,400$206 larger
Bennington, NE 68007 91%680$141,042$391,100$176 cheaper homes ($71K less)
San Antonio, TX 78255 91%1,130$157,428$531,400$212 pricier homes ($70K more)
Harrisburg, NC 28075 90%359$144,288$482,800$205 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 90%411$137,648$409,100$183 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Stilwell, KS 66085 90%614$152,500$538,300$241 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · older residents
Shawnee, KS 66218 90%614$168,878$436,600$207 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Castle Rock, CO 80109 90%1,148$155,025$675,500$224 pricier homes ($214K more) · larger

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.