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 Metamora, OH 43540

Metamora: median income $119,583, home value $259,300, $167/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Underwood, IA 51576 94%605$110,476$305,400$180 pricier homes ($46K more)
Kingston, IL 60145 93%251$108,477$268,300$191 larger
Danvers, IL 61732 93%285$107,941$224,400$129 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dansville, MI 48819 92%62$110,833$254,500$156 larger · older residents
York, PA 17407 91%397$122,625$306,800$168 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Utica, IL 61373 91%263$109,000$237,200$166 5 min shorter commute
Buskirk, NY 12028 90%542$96,891$247,700— Very close on everything we compare
Valley Falls, NY 12185 90%537$110,625$210,900$182 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Marilla, NY 14102 90%285$119,327$259,000— Very close on everything we compare
Ida, MI 48140 90%20$109,257$288,400$151 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Racine, MN 55967 90%460$109,583$317,700$210 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Newark, IL 60541 90%238$118,100$314,300$242 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Essex, IL 60935 90%224$110,000$248,900$185 newer homes
Schaghticoke, NY 12154 89%533$106,136$251,300$197 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Maxwell, IA 50161 89%488$98,519$256,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Milo, IA 50166 89%493$107,279$252,900$135 5 min longer commute
Arlington, WI 53911 89%299$100,625$296,100$222 pricier homes ($37K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Henderson, MN 56044 89%541$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($74K more)
Holdingford, MN 56340 89%594$96,250$294,900$188 pricier homes ($36K more)
Taylor Ridge, IL 61284 89%353$100,505$236,900$204 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fisher, IL 61843 89%250$97,943$192,200$155 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Maple Hill, KS 66507 89%663$96,786$218,400$172 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Louisville, NE 68037 89%638$107,839$245,800$167 larger
Pedricktown, NJ 08067 88%466$111,912$325,600$154 pricier homes ($66K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Sutherland, VA 23885 88%460$103,849$283,900$208 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.