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 Valley City, OH 44280

Valley City: median income $130,167, home value $386,000, $204/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Quinton, VA 23141 95%362$119,535$397,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Somers, CT 06071 94%492$126,500$396,500$237 larger
Hebron, CT 06248 94%494$134,435$376,200$239 Very close on everything we compare
New Tripoli, PA 18066 94%325$109,115$328,400$191 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Lodi, WI 53555 94%416$119,305$392,200$209 larger
Woodstock, CT 06281 93%515$125,778$428,800$261 pricier homes ($43K more)
Averill Park, NY 12018 93%441$126,620$345,200$235 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Perkiomenville, PA 18074 93%342$130,462$433,400$212 pricier homes ($47K more)
Newton, NH 03858 92%569$138,487$459,500$290 pricier homes ($74K more)
Columbia, CT 06237 92%499$127,000$361,500$243 older residents
Lebanon, CT 06249 92%502$109,135$345,900$216 cheaper homes ($40K less)
East Hampton, CT 06424 92%488$123,680$347,800$242 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Cochranville, PA 19330 92%329$109,779$387,100$223 5 min longer commute
Bristol, WI 53104 92%327$112,000$325,100$226 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Cologne, MN 55322 92%647$124,861$426,200$181 pricier homes ($40K more)
Southwick, MA 01077 91%476$120,462$397,500$282 larger
Prospect, CT 06712 91%464$126,394$355,400$260 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
New Freedom, PA 17349 91%294$120,618$368,900$185 5 min longer commute
Poquoson, VA 23662 91%410$120,972$400,300$217 larger
Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442 91%252$111,419$393,600$200 smaller
Washington, MI 48095 91%120$107,393$406,700$208 Very close on everything we compare
Earlham, IA 50072 91%633$111,250$303,900$176 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
New Glarus, WI 53574 91%411$106,508$335,700$205 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Maple Park, IL 60151 91%348$117,450$347,400$193 cheaper homes ($39K less)
West Greenwich, RI 02817 90%533$135,625$535,400$274 pricier homes ($149K more)

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.