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 Hamilton, OH 45013

Hamilton: median income $73,633, home value $232,200, $172/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hobart, IN 46342 97%200$75,521$213,000$164 smaller
La Porte, IN 46350 96%185$74,307$212,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40272 94%115$69,940$176,200$164 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Waco, TX 76708 94%890$68,856$219,900$165 smaller
Portage, IN 46368 93%199$76,368$227,100$170 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesboro, PA 17268 92%376$73,161$237,000$164 smaller
Fairmont, WV 26554 92%235$69,712$183,900$151 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Lebanon, IN 46052 92%107$68,930$221,900$178 smaller
Westland, MI 48186 92%208$65,187$174,000$157 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Sterling Heights, MI 48310 92%231$78,058$274,700$160 pricier homes ($43K more)
Belvidere, IL 61008 92%295$76,604$195,800$151 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Carlsbad, NM 88220 92%1,197$78,162$206,900$198 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Colonial Heights, VA 23834 91%418$84,338$253,400$184 smaller
Martinsville, IN 46151 91%99$78,812$242,200$164 smaller
Greensburg, IN 47240 91%48$69,985$209,200$160 smaller
Gainesville, TX 76240 91%801$71,502$227,100$180 smaller
Warren, MI 48092 90%227$73,808$220,400$156 smaller
Greenville, MI 48838 90%261$70,176$211,500$180 smaller
Arnold, MO 63010 90%318$79,784$224,300$184 smaller · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64119 90%529$83,929$229,700$159 smaller
Leavenworth, KS 66048 90%551$72,734$219,100$150 smaller
La Porte, TX 77571 90%896$81,850$237,500$157 newer homes
Richmond, VA 23237 89%412$79,606$277,100$196 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · newer homes
Vinton, VA 24179 89%297$67,565$224,600$157 smaller
Newton, NC 28658 89%320$72,042$214,000$176 smaller

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.