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 Medina, OH 44256

Medina: median income $99,923, home value $316,000, $200/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fenton, MO 63026 96%492$97,553$294,400$189 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63129 94%486$94,888$295,600$170 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Peters, MO 63376 94%492$96,393$275,400$178 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Mechanicsville, VA 23111 93%342$98,969$348,200$232 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Clemmons, NC 27012 93%362$96,250$340,900$179 smaller
Fenton, MI 48430 93%149$100,193$326,400$210 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Howell, MI 48843 93%147$94,577$348,400$201 pricier homes ($32K more)
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 92%401$98,217$313,200$232 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisburg, PA 17112 92%271$103,876$313,000$179 smaller
Aiken, SC 29803 92%528$86,023$298,800$173 smaller
Lakeland, FL 33813 92%911$99,497$366,300$202 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · younger residents
New Baltimore, MI 48047 92%116$94,890$321,700$185 smaller
Utica, MI 48316 92%123$107,776$383,500$178 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Green Bay, WI 54313 92%394$107,599$323,300$203 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
O Fallon, MO 63366 92%497$100,621$304,500$181 Very close on everything we compare
Reading, PA 19608 91%310$110,173$332,400$178 smaller
Forest, VA 24551 91%297$91,067$362,500$187 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Gastonia, NC 28056 91%411$90,427$315,000$180 smaller
Rock Hill, SC 29732 91%429$84,937$334,000$198 Very close on everything we compare
Valparaiso, IN 46385 91%272$98,957$331,700$173 smaller
Newburgh, IN 47630 91%367$94,162$272,000$159 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Circle Pines, MN 55014 91%632$103,658$337,400$202 smaller
Tucson, AZ 85742 91%1,715$98,844$368,300$228 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Dillsburg, PA 17019 90%263$94,423$299,300$196 smaller
Greer, SC 29651 90%428$82,705$297,300$184 Very close on everything we compare

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.