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 Genoa, OH 43430

Genoa: median income $73,807, home value $156,700, $138/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hagerstown, IN 47346 96%146$70,000$144,300$114 Very close on everything we compare
North Rose, NY 14516 94%348$76,000$172,400$114 smaller
Newfane, NY 14108 93%266$76,345$162,700$152 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403 93%171$69,851$153,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
Madelia, MN 56062 93%586$76,713$182,500$142 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Forreston, IL 61030 93%323$71,655$157,200$130 smaller
North Manchester, IN 46962 92%131$67,984$159,600$135 larger
Ithaca, MI 48847 92%137$66,264$172,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Grundy Center, IA 50638 92%487$85,223$185,200$135 pricier homes ($29K more)
Shell Rock, IA 50670 92%480$84,679$171,500$134 smaller
New London, IA 52645 92%420$79,327$159,700$113 Very close on everything we compare
Elroy, WI 53929 92%384$65,568$187,000$130 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Knightstown, IN 46148 91%165$63,914$186,800$128 pricier homes ($30K more)
Bourbon, IN 46504 91%144$74,567$184,300$168 pricier homes ($28K more)
South Whitley, IN 46787 91%121$62,242$166,600$126 Very close on everything we compare
Shirley, IN 47384 91%159$74,167$158,300$152 smaller
Ladoga, IN 47954 91%212$81,364$188,200$140 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Camp Point, IL 62320 91%417$77,143$167,400$138 smaller
Lyndon, KS 66451 91%681$76,908$158,500$123 smaller
Homer City, PA 15748 90%233$70,474$153,600$125 Very close on everything we compare
Quincy, MI 49082 90%84$74,063$177,400$163 Very close on everything we compare
Hudson, MI 49247 90%55$59,787$150,100$126 Very close on everything we compare
La Porte City, IA 50651 90%457$88,333$187,600$134 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Shullsburg, WI 53586 90%360$70,806$166,100$106 smaller
Farmington, IL 61531 90%352$70,107$127,700$112 cheaper homes ($29K 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.