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 Spencer, OH 44275

Spencer: median income $93,785, home value $252,400, $174/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elizabeth, IN 47117 92%290$86,853$221,700$179 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 5 min longer commute
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 91%256$94,130$311,600$207 pricier homes ($59K more)
Bainbridge, IN 46105 91%264$87,736$248,500$142 smaller · younger residents
Fillmore, IN 46128 91%264$86,466$209,300$200 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Memphis, MI 48041 90%132$75,677$316,500$188 pricier homes ($64K more)
Byron, MI 48418 90%152$74,547$255,000$177 Very close on everything we compare
South Range, WI 54874 90%618$89,063$218,900$201 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Delta, PA 17314 89%317$96,047$269,300$187 larger · younger residents
York Springs, PA 17372 89%273$82,313$282,700$158 pricier homes ($30K more)
Goodells, MI 48027 89%131$90,417$273,700$181 younger residents · newer homes
Bernard, IA 52032 89%460$88,500$269,000$214 smaller
Hatley, WI 54440 89%449$90,921$222,700$148 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Warfordsburg, PA 17267 88%225$77,788$251,000$160 younger residents
Fawn Grove, PA 17321 88%312$114,205$291,200$230 pricier homes ($39K more)
Orrtanna, PA 17353 88%262$100,150$264,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Long Pond, PA 18334 88%346$90,729$254,600$209 newer homes
Charles City, VA 23030 88%371$81,250$253,700$206 older residents
Depauw, IN 47115 88%290$88,229$194,500$193 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Britton, MI 49229 88%109$94,950$226,600$236 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Jerome, MI 49249 88%138$82,407$224,000$196 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Glenwood City, WI 54013 88%577$87,500$307,600$179 pricier homes ($55K more)
Rosholt, WI 54473 88%441$80,038$244,600$201 7 min shorter commute
Cedar Hill, MO 63016 88%492$86,359$229,900$173 larger
Mc Louth, KS 66054 88%705$98,214$243,500$185 younger residents
New Bloomfield, PA 17068 87%261$82,888$214,600$165 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.