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 La Rue, OH 43332

La Rue: median income $81,382, home value $146,600, $188/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hubbardston, MI 48845 92%189$86,042$172,500$164 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Shirley, IN 47384 89%122$74,167$158,300$152 newer homes
Deerfield, MI 49238 89%93$75,054$208,200$163 pricier homes ($62K more)
Gypsum, KS 67448 89%758$89,076$127,100$153 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Colfax, IN 46035 87%175$73,357$164,700$192 smaller · newer homes
Waldron, MI 49288 87%98$66,833$147,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Ohio, IL 61349 87%324$71,375$119,200$126 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Royal Center, IN 46978 86%165$78,750$130,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Blissfield, MI 49228 86%90$82,703$196,500$179 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Wheatland, IA 52777 86%397$60,250$158,900$168 smaller
Owaneco, IL 62555 85%317$69,676$131,300— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Appleton, NY 14008 83%308$77,702$188,700$184 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Greens Fork, IN 47345 83%100$73,750$155,600$136 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Darlington, IN 47940 83%181$70,711$152,100$157 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Waveland, IN 47989 83%198$104,048$122,700$230 smaller · older residents
Woodland, MI 48897 83%173$69,531$224,600$204 pricier homes ($78K more)
Shelby, IA 51570 83%632$77,708$204,700$144 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · more renters
Reynolds, IL 61279 83%383$87,656$161,500$128 smaller · newer homes
Hardin, MO 64035 83%560$86,756$138,300$144 smaller · younger residents · newer homes
Redfield, IA 50233 82%567$78,984$204,300$171 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · newer homes
Logan, IA 51546 82%650$86,910$207,900$163 pricier homes ($61K more)
Keystone, IA 52249 82%469$75,417$163,200$215 smaller · older residents
Collins, NY 14034 81%267$62,412$151,200$134 newer homes
Kirklin, IN 46050 81%158$74,531$164,400$312 older residents
Hamlet, IN 46532 81%177$84,866$145,100$138 younger residents · 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.