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 Helena, OH 43435

Helena: median income $89,000, home value $176,400, $167/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canistota, SD 57012 97%728$94,375$180,200$199 Very close on everything we compare
Bringhurst, IN 46913 96%176$91,136$171,800$183 Very close on everything we compare
Kendall, NY 14476 94%303$90,536$188,800$192 larger
White Deer, TX 79097 94%1,047$88,182$144,600— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Winthrop, IA 50682 93%440$89,375$183,800$142 older residents
Ossian, IA 52161 93%450$87,870$171,400$182 6 min shorter commute
Malta, IL 60150 93%290$86,719$188,400$200 Very close on everything we compare
Mapleton, MN 56065 92%569$92,933$223,100$146 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Memphis, NY 13112 91%374$96,615$195,400$160 larger
Elba, NY 14058 91%290$102,750$151,500$179 larger
Hamlet, IN 46532 91%170$84,866$145,100$138 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Monroe City, IN 47557 91%285$84,375$151,600$126 Very close on everything we compare
Lyndon, KS 66451 91%680$76,908$158,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
East Bethany, NY 14054 90%287$79,286$172,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
Weeping Water, NE 68463 90%668$85,972$199,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Clayville, NY 13322 89%429$91,369$204,800$141 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Spiceland, IN 47385 89%152$103,406$211,200$161 pricier homes ($35K more)
Ladoga, IN 47954 89%207$81,364$188,200$140 larger · older residents
Roland, IA 50236 89%528$85,046$198,900$179 older residents
Sully, IA 50251 89%493$91,061$186,200$153 7 min shorter commute
Sidney, IL 61877 89%265$96,750$209,700$146 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Sprakers, NY 12166 88%466$94,821$219,400$142 pricier homes ($43K more)
Hegins, PA 17938 88%360$93,722$219,000$151 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents
Boswell, IN 47921 88%219$100,455$165,000$114 Very close on everything we compare
Fowler, MI 48835 88%137$81,964$214,400$158 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents

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.