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 Waynesville, OH 45068

Waynesville: median income $96,147, home value $335,600, $204/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mohnton, PA 19540 96%432$100,000$319,600$216 Very close on everything we compare
Hortonville, WI 54944 95%406$100,523$346,200$201 Very close on everything we compare
Hampden, ME 04444 94%857$106,554$293,000$200 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Grass Lake, MI 49240 94%190$99,681$298,700$193 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Oley, PA 19547 93%444$89,948$357,900$213 smaller
Danville, IN 46122 93%131$99,531$304,900$165 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Richland, MI 49083 93%209$105,496$348,100$170 Very close on everything we compare
Lowell, MI 49331 93%246$91,800$315,300$224 larger
Belleville, WI 53508 93%365$99,948$350,700$230 smaller
Milton, WI 53563 93%339$89,528$293,800$229 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Wyoming, MN 55092 93%605$95,337$363,900$206 pricier homes ($28K more)
New London, MN 56273 93%682$90,122$320,100$170 smaller
Bonner Springs, KS 66012 93%580$97,873$276,500$191 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73150 93%779$92,318$313,500$164 smaller
New Tripoli, PA 18066 92%447$109,115$328,400$191 smaller
Moscow, PA 18444 92%467$84,246$261,100$207 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Mountain Top, PA 18707 92%443$109,567$301,200$174 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Thurmont, MD 21788 92%356$98,856$379,200$208 pricier homes ($44K more)
Sparta, MI 49345 92%264$85,463$274,200$203 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Mukwonago, WI 53149 92%321$110,608$414,200$240 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Luxemburg, WI 54217 92%394$89,489$284,700$228 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Cold Spring, MN 56320 92%667$87,026$353,600$168 Very close on everything we compare
Hawley, MN 56549 92%804$105,968$341,500$170 smaller
Dell Rapids, SD 57022 92%716$100,656$325,200$192 smaller
Smithville, MO 64089 92%559$101,009$327,200$196 Very close on everything we compare

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.