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 Dorset, OH 44032

Dorset: median income $55,188, home value $167,600, $120/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spartansburg, PA 16434 93%52$59,420$145,300$113 Very close on everything we compare
Medaryville, IN 47957 91%324$61,002$159,400$125 more renters
Hardyville, KY 42746 88%409$50,000$115,200$126 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Branch, LA 70516 88%1,016$53,750$163,100$126 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Randolph, MS 38864 86%695$54,130$161,500$79 Very close on everything we compare
Blanchard, MI 49310 86%258$64,420$177,700$145 Very close on everything we compare
Lockesburg, AR 71846 86%907$56,250$124,700$162 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Thaxton, VA 24174 84%302$54,052$192,800$135 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents
Finger, TN 38334 84%610$66,563$150,900$144 older residents
Bluejacket, OK 74333 84%841$54,667$181,300— smaller · older residents
Atlantic, PA 16111 83%22$70,074$162,300— smaller
Harrisonville, PA 17228 83%178$67,438$172,000$114 smaller
Geraldine, AL 35974 83%582$52,054$155,900$97 more renters
Burnsville, MS 38833 83%626$52,917$142,300— cheaper homes ($25K less) · more renters
Hazleton, IA 50641 83%579$67,115$156,000$148 6 min shorter commute
Granton, WI 54436 83%532$61,048$168,000$156 older residents
Crocker, MO 65452 83%666$60,350$130,500$130 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Castle Creek, NY 13744 82%248$61,086$120,000— cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older residents
Panama, NY 14767 82%67$67,607$143,500$156 older residents
Dayton, PA 16222 82%91$64,688$158,400$138 larger · 8 min longer commute · older homes
Ballard, WV 24918 82%288$63,594$140,800— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Wellington, AL 36279 82%612$53,024$159,100$131 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Etna Green, IN 46524 82%279$65,987$178,100$89 8 min shorter commute
Geneva, IN 46740 82%235$58,484$158,900$125 larger · younger residents · older homes
Saint Joe, IN 46785 82%220$63,250$163,300$140 older residents · older 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.