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 Hiram, OH 44234

Hiram: median income $75,547, home value $242,000, $95/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cumby, TX 75433 90%984$86,042$207,600$108 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Douglass, KS 67039 89%884$91,964$201,500$105 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lavalette, WV 25535 88%218$72,446$216,700$105 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 8 min shorter commute
New Berlin, IL 62670 88%470$78,750$211,900$134 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Labadie, MO 63055 88%551$79,125$278,600$131 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Cheney, KS 67025 88%921$86,840$205,100$127 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Newport Center, VT 05857 87%511$71,683$244,400$108 smaller
Dubois, IN 47527 87%358$91,169$273,700$92 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Okarche, OK 73762 87%984$93,194$261,700$117 smaller
Petersburg, PA 16669 86%172$78,977$215,500$113 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Maidsville, WV 26541 86%129$73,444$236,400$163 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, MS 39154 86%814$72,783$221,300$143 larger
Parkersburg, IA 50665 86%603$75,521$217,700$134 older homes
Ettrick, WI 54627 86%549$77,212$223,800$93 smaller
Lake Crystal, MN 56055 86%690$90,987$226,100$120 older homes
Liberty, IL 62347 86%531$93,810$225,900$103 smaller
Goreville, IL 62939 86%491$65,750$173,000$114 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Saint Paul, NE 68873 86%897$75,000$214,800$113 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Springwater, NY 14560 85%205$75,257$178,200$87 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older homes
Springville, PA 18844 85%273$92,750$246,300— smaller
Daniels, WV 25832 85%249$74,184$192,600$149 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Alexandria, AL 36250 85%583$83,406$211,600$140 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Hemlock, MI 48626 85%213$84,360$224,100$127 larger
Moravia, IA 52571 85%610$81,953$197,800$139 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Donnellson, IA 52625 85%545$80,078$205,300$125 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute

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.