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 Grafton, OH 44044

Grafton: median income $88,333, home value $257,500, $181/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Butler, PA 16002 94%118$90,305$263,100$188 Very close on everything we compare
Elmer, NJ 08318 93%381$92,558$302,000$198 pricier homes ($45K more)
Churubusco, IN 46723 93%170$84,286$219,300$167 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Carleton, MI 48117 92%87$78,942$298,100$185 pricier homes ($41K more)
East Berlin, PA 17316 91%279$90,664$293,200$184 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Rockwood, MI 48173 91%81$94,094$244,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
Petersburg, MI 49270 91%94$94,840$297,600$171 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Spring Grove, PA 17362 90%288$98,702$292,100$179 pricier homes ($35K more)
Wolcottville, IN 46795 90%171$87,175$260,000$244 smaller
Birch Run, MI 48415 90%163$79,067$210,200$162 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Pardeeville, WI 53954 90%403$83,207$278,600$190 smaller
Waterford, PA 16441 89%115$81,117$223,900$153 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Halifax, PA 17032 89%275$81,250$226,400$150 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Pine Grove, PA 17963 89%302$79,118$216,500$163 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Kouts, IN 46347 89%259$95,348$255,400$173 smaller
North Street, MI 48049 89%124$84,028$235,700$183 smaller
Waterford, MI 48329 89%119$85,709$270,800$194 larger
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 89%159$78,257$217,500$150 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Browns Mills, NJ 08015 88%403$80,889$230,900$241 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 88%295$97,896$303,200$175 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Preston, MD 21655 88%368$90,385$289,200$221 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Mooresville, IN 46158 88%256$81,096$255,100$170 larger
Hebron, IN 46341 88%268$89,559$269,300$189 6 min longer commute
Walkerton, IN 46574 88%231$76,181$188,100$136 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Albion, IN 46701 88%175$78,385$211,600$146 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller

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.