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 Burton, OH 44021

Burton: median income $82,008, home value $242,900, $170/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Odessa, MI 48849 97%224$80,313$223,600$194 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery, MN 56069 96%661$87,118$269,700$183 pricier homes ($27K more)
Monroe, IA 50170 95%618$88,704$217,000$149 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Randolph, WI 53956 95%425$84,231$232,800$226 smaller
Beresford, SD 57004 95%806$88,750$264,100$168 smaller
Wakarusa, IN 46573 94%252$85,750$241,100$156 smaller
Leslie, MI 49251 94%182$85,253$206,300$149 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Palmyra, WI 53156 94%393$85,313$238,200$191 smaller
Le Center, MN 56057 94%667$91,250$248,300$161 smaller
Marcy, NY 13403 93%323$86,300$226,600$168 Very close on everything we compare
Mill Hall, PA 17751 93%192$75,072$215,100$143 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Greentown, IN 46936 93%260$79,900$223,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Missouri Valley, IA 51555 93%762$85,273$188,700$145 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Clinton, WI 53525 93%403$79,323$248,100$189 older residents
Waterloo, WI 53594 93%417$88,390$244,200$187 Very close on everything we compare
Brillion, WI 54110 93%398$73,685$223,900$150 Very close on everything we compare
Janesville, MN 56048 93%662$85,532$238,600$159 Very close on everything we compare
Corfu, NY 14036 92%176$88,466$187,800$207 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Volant, PA 16156 92%53$69,054$221,400— smaller
Womelsdorf, PA 19567 92%269$91,458$250,600$168 newer homes
Mitchellville, IA 50169 92%631$83,938$227,000$151 smaller
Grundy Center, IA 50638 92%601$85,223$185,200$135 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
La Porte City, IA 50651 92%570$88,333$187,600$134 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Tipton, IA 52772 92%516$81,267$225,700$152 older residents
Fredonia, WI 53021 92%374$89,779$315,800$216 pricier homes ($73K more)

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.