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 Big Prairie, OH 44611

Big Prairie: median income $68,809, home value $238,300, $130/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eastview, KY 42732 95%300$73,148$265,700$100 pricier homes ($27K more)
Simpson, IL 62985 92%419$74,375$183,800— cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Verona, MO 65769 90%680$67,829$171,500$141 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Plymouth, ME 04969 89%712$61,964$207,100— cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Woodstock, AL 35188 89%584$73,438$209,300$132 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Buffalo, KY 42716 89%290$72,125$188,800$137 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Deford, MI 48729 89%205$60,776$211,700$132 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Mardela Springs, MD 21837 88%368$62,880$227,400$182 Very close on everything we compare
Fosters, AL 35463 88%606$59,464$226,000$185 Very close on everything we compare
Creola, AL 36525 88%749$66,719$209,100$155 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Loretto, KY 40037 88%273$70,000$215,000$139 6 min longer commute
Etna, ME 04434 87%716$72,379$183,000$195 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Solsberry, IN 47459 87%268$76,061$244,100$158 larger
Blanket, TX 76432 87%1,113$69,688$216,700$147 smaller · older homes
Stony Point, NC 28678 86%333$74,845$236,600$188 larger
Half Way, MO 65663 86%634$61,023$210,600$177 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters
Ardmore, AL 35739 85%468$70,354$224,700$167 larger
Tennessee Ridge, TN 37178 85%428$72,692$173,600$134 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Wildersville, TN 38388 85%481$59,519$205,200$130 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Cornell, MI 49818 85%448$61,528$191,700$180 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Scandinavia, WI 54977 85%448$81,328$249,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Parkers Prairie, MN 56361 85%766$70,541$247,700$124 older homes
Randall, MN 56475 85%728$64,327$207,800$150 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Charleston, ME 04422 84%725$75,250$226,500$178 smaller · older homes
Maysville, WV 26833 84%186$72,012$180,100$211 cheaper homes ($58K less)

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.