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 Butler, OH 44822

Butler: median income $72,159, home value $245,700, $135/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thorndike, ME 04986 88%724$71,833$184,500$163 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Eagle Lake, FL 33839 88%869$70,000$240,400$149 newer homes
Vermontville, MI 49096 88%198$73,929$188,500$117 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Plato, MO 65552 88%564$63,894$189,000$118 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Lizton, IN 46149 87%223$88,750$247,800$179 smaller
Cashton, WI 54619 87%482$71,463$230,200$149 8 min shorter commute
Pierz, MN 56364 87%698$76,638$263,400$146 older residents
Meraux, LA 70075 87%846$73,067$232,600$140 older residents
West Columbia, TX 77486 87%1,087$74,857$240,200$137 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Landisburg, PA 17040 86%268$78,824$261,900$183 smaller · older residents
Loganton, PA 17747 86%268$71,731$208,000$176 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Roopville, GA 30170 86%514$90,962$222,000$189 older residents
Italy, TX 76651 86%990$67,500$224,500$162 older residents
Fultonville, NY 12072 85%445$81,063$190,200$109 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hardinsburg, IN 47125 85%254$73,421$169,500$142 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Clearbrook, MN 56634 85%810$64,886$216,400$140 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Moro, IL 62067 85%417$72,431$221,000$172 smaller · older residents
Boling, TX 77420 85%1,093$67,697$226,400$104 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Maple Hill, NC 28454 84%481$73,015$209,400$177 cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Pembroke, KY 42266 84%373$71,250$230,200$119 9 min shorter commute
Borden, IN 47106 84%238$87,344$207,700$168 cheaper homes ($38K less) · newer homes
Melrose, WI 54642 84%506$73,452$210,600$152 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Ririe, ID 83443 84%1,501$65,590$247,700$180 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Aaronsburg, PA 16820 83%260$83,900$263,600— smaller
Loysville, PA 17047 83%262$87,578$302,900$130 pricier homes ($57K more) · 6 min longer commute

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.