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 Mount Sterling, OH 43143

Mount Sterling: median income $100,333, home value $242,800, $179/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Delta, PA 17314 97%368$96,047$269,300$187 pricier homes ($27K more)
Lawson, MO 64062 93%581$92,277$274,400$163 pricier homes ($32K more)
Clear Spring, MD 21722 92%286$88,232$312,500$195 pricier homes ($70K more)
Grant Park, IL 60940 92%253$97,361$271,900$163 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Millerstown, PA 17062 91%330$90,893$233,000$209 5 min shorter commute
Kouts, IN 46347 91%225$95,348$255,400$173 5 min shorter commute
Black Creek, WI 54106 91%422$97,500$277,800$199 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Kingston, IL 60145 91%331$108,477$268,300$191 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Gaines, MI 48436 90%221$94,487$276,000$131 pricier homes ($33K more)
Webberville, MI 48892 90%209$89,125$210,900$172 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Bunker Hill, IL 62014 90%360$93,233$204,400$128 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Roopville, GA 30170 89%447$90,962$222,000$189 smaller
Clayton, IN 46118 89%171$78,298$276,900$166 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Hebron, IN 46341 89%234$89,559$269,300$189 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
New Carlisle, IN 46552 89%217$91,341$237,900$168 6 min shorter commute
New Lothrop, MI 48460 89%239$80,000$213,900$195 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Foley, MN 56329 89%679$92,738$282,000$176 pricier homes ($39K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Wonder Lake, IL 60097 89%322$93,397$229,700$204 larger
Sheridan, IL 60551 89%309$86,786$301,600$187 pricier homes ($59K more) · newer homes
Edgewood, TX 75117 89%852$90,954$250,000$181 newer homes
Danbury, TX 77534 89%997$105,741$245,700$148 smaller · younger residents
Gasport, NY 14067 88%343$95,671$184,700$174 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Smithsburg, MD 21783 88%304$100,750$339,800$174 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Dryden, MI 48428 88%223$100,033$311,600$204 pricier homes ($69K more) · newer homes
Perrinton, MI 48871 88%249$84,803$230,600$169 smaller

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.