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 Marion, OH 43302

Marion: median income $55,057, home value $154,200, $140/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Huron, MI 48060 97%170$53,018$160,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Taylor, MI 48180 97%114$61,081$152,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Kankakee, IL 60901 97%251$58,309$151,200$135 smaller
Kokomo, IN 46901 95%159$60,495$142,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Roseville, MI 48066 95%133$62,182$155,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, IN 47374 94%107$50,766$130,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Muskegon, MI 49442 94%241$48,563$136,400$166 Very close on everything we compare
Decatur, AL 35601 93%465$51,429$172,200$134 smaller
Elkhart, IN 46516 93%166$56,492$153,400$147 smaller
Council Bluffs, IA 51501 93%667$59,843$152,400$156 smaller
San Angelo, TX 76903 93%1,151$49,498$125,700$149 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Eden, NC 27288 92%336$52,594$136,700$136 smaller
Henderson, KY 42420 92%305$57,053$170,300$142 newer homes
Michigan City, IN 46360 92%209$59,266$167,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, IN 47362 92%127$60,258$146,800$113 smaller
Jackson, MI 49203 92%132$56,201$159,100$133 Very close on everything we compare
Muskegon, MI 49444 92%239$53,054$165,900$165 smaller
Danville, VA 24540 91%340$47,924$159,200$129 smaller
Kokomo, IN 46902 91%158$62,126$168,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Sedalia, MO 65301 91%553$58,064$164,300$142 smaller
Westwego, LA 70094 91%839$53,597$159,700$136 smaller · newer homes
Danville, VA 24541 90%341$51,427$145,100$115 smaller
Saint Albans, WV 25177 90%168$55,046$139,900$116 smaller
Shelbyville, IN 46176 90%159$65,182$194,400$137 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Logansport, IN 46947 90%170$54,791$126,800$113 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 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.