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 Thompson, OH 44086

Thompson: median income $92,143, home value $289,100, $187/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hager City, WI 54014 97%614$101,667$302,900$208 Very close on everything we compare
Rosendale, WI 54974 97%411$97,222$263,600$172 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Vandalia, MI 49095 96%249$83,393$264,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Bonfield, IL 60913 96%365$87,750$279,000$156 Very close on everything we compare
Springville, IA 52336 95%535$91,458$225,300$179 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Cascade, WI 53011 95%383$90,833$253,400$193 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Rosholt, WI 54473 95%465$80,038$244,600$201 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Neosho, WI 53059 94%396$91,114$342,800$232 pricier homes ($54K more)
Brightwood, VA 22715 93%272$87,353$359,400$210 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Caledonia, WI 53108 93%360$86,679$296,800$233 Very close on everything we compare
Sibley, MO 64088 93%711$101,645$342,800$213 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Earlton, NY 12058 92%370$85,469$273,500— smaller
Fombell, PA 16123 92%74$102,500$251,400$211 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Waldron, IN 46182 92%286$89,567$254,300$146 cheaper homes ($35K less)
North Street, MI 48049 92%122$84,028$235,700$183 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Hanover, MI 49241 92%184$81,742$222,600$180 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Saint Cloud, WI 53079 92%390$86,667$260,000$181 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Hatley, WI 54440 92%472$90,921$222,700$148 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Coon Valley, WI 54623 92%525$88,864$276,400$181 Very close on everything we compare
Fremont, WI 54940 92%432$90,813$307,100$208 larger
Monroe Center, IL 61052 92%410$91,797$225,700$174 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Fabius, NY 13063 91%272$84,063$230,200$161 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Darien Center, NY 14040 91%160$88,779$210,100$141 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Washington Boro, PA 17582 91%268$100,263$304,800$211 younger residents
Kingsley, PA 18826 91%272$88,958$267,800$150 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.