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 Pemberville, OH 43450

Pemberville: median income $84,375, home value $239,700, $143/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wilton, IA 52778 92%390$82,623$202,200$158 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Hazel Green, WI 53811 91%370$82,769$224,700$156 newer homes
Waitsburg, WA 99361 91%1,746$91,367$295,900$153 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Fox Lake, WI 53933 90%315$83,578$261,000$205 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, SD 57058 90%725$84,286$228,600$132 smaller
Champlain, NY 12919 89%562$80,931$167,500$144 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners
Missouri Valley, IA 51555 89%642$85,273$188,700$145 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more homeowners
Le Sueur, MN 56058 89%567$86,677$280,300$158 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · more homeowners
Canton, SD 57013 89%682$76,458$226,000$131 more homeowners
Herscher, IL 60941 89%241$85,000$205,900$159 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Alma, KS 66401 89%696$73,516$220,900$176 smaller
North Collins, NY 14111 88%248$90,700$201,700$164 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Hughesville, PA 17737 88%351$70,131$203,800$138 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Shoemakersville, PA 19555 88%397$89,583$239,900$190 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, IA 51001 88%675$75,404$192,700$119 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Sloan, IA 51055 88%659$72,143$218,300$156 smaller
Clinton, WI 53525 88%288$79,323$248,100$189 more homeowners
Columbus, WI 53925 88%313$84,044$268,000$193 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Valley Falls, KS 66088 88%646$75,795$196,000$134 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more homeowners
Union Springs, NY 13160 87%362$86,029$185,600$168 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Springville, NY 14141 87%258$80,906$217,800$170 larger
Oakland, IA 51560 87%617$75,481$177,100$123 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Bonduel, WI 54107 87%339$79,815$210,700$160 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners
Oregon, IL 61061 87%306$87,829$196,000$142 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
New Baden, IL 62265 87%384$84,853$194,500$112 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 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.