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 Fostoria, OH 44830

Fostoria: median income $62,990, home value $121,700, $115/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Streator, IL 61364 97%282$59,060$103,700$128 Very close on everything we compare
Connersville, IN 47331 96%139$58,967$132,400$113 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, IN 47362 96%134$60,258$146,800$113 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Logansport, IN 46947 95%156$54,791$126,800$113 larger
Peru, IN 46970 95%141$57,842$118,700$88 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, IN 47371 95%97$64,000$123,000$111 smaller
Granite City, IL 62040 95%393$60,031$112,000$106 larger
Clinton, IN 47842 94%235$56,750$119,400$109 smaller
Wood River, IL 62095 94%387$65,013$111,000$110 smaller
Taylorville, IL 62568 94%329$62,718$123,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Moundsville, WV 26041 93%165$54,419$144,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Kokomo, IN 46901 93%150$60,495$142,100$123 larger
Sterling, IL 61081 93%329$67,586$123,400$113 Very close on everything we compare
Benton, IL 62812 93%366$60,539$101,100$101 smaller
Albion, NY 14411 92%303$55,641$114,700$121 smaller
Reynoldsville, PA 15851 92%236$63,158$119,300$141 smaller
Saint Albans, WV 25177 92%210$55,046$139,900$116 Very close on everything we compare
Elwood, IN 46036 92%141$62,074$117,700$118 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Rushville, IN 46173 92%150$67,456$162,000$125 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Owosso, MI 48867 92%132$59,825$154,400$143 pricier homes ($33K more)
La Salle, IL 61301 92%295$60,328$129,000$104 smaller
Canton, IL 61520 92%348$58,376$115,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Tyrone, PA 16686 91%272$69,008$173,000$115 pricier homes ($51K more)
Frankfort, IN 46041 91%171$63,157$161,000$144 pricier homes ($39K more)
Huntington, IN 46750 91%111$63,978$158,100$130 pricier homes ($36K 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.