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 Irondale, OH 43932

Irondale: median income $54,531, home value $152,000, $159/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blain, PA 17006 86%173$64,722$169,500$114 Very close on everything we compare
Olney Springs, CO 81062 79%1,243$56,250$127,300$122 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Port Norris, NJ 08349 78%316$64,861$153,500$156 larger · older residents · older homes
Cottage Grove, TN 38224 78%505$58,182$130,800$152 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Kingsford Heights, IN 46346 78%315$57,830$120,500$144 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Macy, IN 46951 78%281$55,227$150,300$134 larger · more homeowners
Lost Nation, IA 52254 77%531$64,375$113,600$172 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Branch, LA 70516 77%956$53,750$163,100$126 more homeowners · newer homes
Rebersburg, PA 16872 76%180$72,708$199,200— pricier homes ($47K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Baskerville, VA 23915 76%295$50,815$156,600$119 older residents · newer homes
Ballard, WV 24918 76%208$63,594$140,800— more homeowners · newer homes
Medaryville, IN 47957 76%321$61,002$159,400$125 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Monon, IN 47959 76%319$48,750$129,700$159 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Greenwood, WI 54437 76%578$67,097$158,500$116 larger
Paw Paw, IL 61353 76%433$66,719$165,300$200 older residents · more homeowners
Daisetta, TX 77533 75%1,059$65,557$118,500$107 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Wadley, AL 36276 74%573$52,471$195,800$241 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · newer homes
Cowan, TN 37318 74%466$52,125$177,100$178 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · older residents
Urich, MO 64788 74%717$71,705$166,400$164 older residents
Carey, ID 83320 74%1,702$57,813$245,500$258 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Lamar, MS 38642 73%604$59,388$143,200$162 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Burnsville, MS 38833 73%567$52,917$142,300— larger · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Carthage, IN 46115 73%258$61,406$172,800$147 larger · older residents
Tippecanoe, IN 46570 73%282$54,185$221,300$194 pricier homes ($69K more) · more homeowners
Saybrook, IL 61770 73%406$60,750$110,900$96 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · more homeowners

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.