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 Canton, OH 44706

Canton: median income $58,228, home value $143,800, $142/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Joseph, MO 64503 95%710$53,039$140,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, IN 46041 94%267$63,157$161,000$144 Very close on everything we compare
Evansdale, IA 50707 94%573$63,441$153,700$128 smaller
Saint Joseph, MO 64504 94%713$58,801$127,100$112 smaller
Logansport, IN 46947 93%259$54,791$126,800$113 larger
New Castle, IN 47362 93%216$60,258$146,800$113 larger
Washington, IN 47501 93%339$62,982$172,800$129 pricier homes ($29K more)
Muskegon, MI 49444 93%297$53,054$165,900$165 larger
Antigo, WI 54409 93%493$53,576$123,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Mexico, MO 65265 93%565$56,969$152,600$138 Very close on everything we compare
Beatrice, NE 68310 93%805$60,928$168,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Kokomo, IN 46901 92%249$60,495$142,100$123 larger
Council Bluffs, IA 51501 92%754$59,843$152,400$156 larger
La Salle, IL 61301 92%402$60,328$129,000$104 smaller
Chillicothe, MO 64601 92%643$63,061$153,900$108 Very close on everything we compare
Marion, IN 46952 91%224$52,880$146,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Creek, MI 49017 91%222$60,885$152,900$125 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, IA 50208 91%607$62,306$168,900$169 pricier homes ($25K more)
Clarinda, IA 51632 91%712$55,055$143,000$130 smaller
Ottumwa, IA 52501 91%574$63,426$122,700$121 larger
Hibbing, MN 55746 91%732$55,823$134,600$116 Very close on everything we compare
Taylorville, IL 62568 91%425$62,718$123,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, IL 62656 91%420$62,017$141,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
El Dorado, KS 67042 91%849$62,857$141,300$119 Very close on everything we compare
Abilene, TX 79603 91%1,165$53,513$120,900$134 younger residents

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.