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 Midland, OH 45148

Midland: median income $78,438, home value $179,700, $126/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Donaldson, AR 71941 95%609$70,329$151,400$116 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Stetson, ME 04488 94%849$76,023$205,700$138 pricier homes ($26K more)
West Sunbury, PA 16061 94%243$74,464$197,400— larger
Ruffin, NC 27326 94%307$79,375$169,800$156 larger
Smithland, KY 42081 94%281$92,868$167,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Orrick, MO 64077 93%547$75,956$171,200$125 Very close on everything we compare
Asher, OK 74826 93%774$78,750$163,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Chateaugay, NY 12920 92%635$79,773$152,600$104 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Lacona, NY 13083 92%505$71,667$139,900$141 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Trout Run, PA 17771 92%391$71,016$198,000$117 larger
Ulster, PA 18850 92%427$71,739$175,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Daviston, AL 36256 92%445$64,167$151,800$136 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chatom, AL 36518 92%593$87,768$168,500$131 Very close on everything we compare
Roachdale, IN 46172 92%159$85,912$177,100$106 larger
Harlan, IN 46743 92%143$81,406$217,800$161 pricier homes ($38K more)
Elizabethtown, IN 47232 92%104$70,938$199,100$154 Very close on everything we compare
Heltonville, IN 47436 92%135$75,278$210,800$166 pricier homes ($31K more)
Hixton, WI 54635 92%510$72,566$209,100$110 pricier homes ($29K more)
Almond, WI 54909 92%445$80,417$195,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Shevlin, MN 56676 92%802$74,167$209,600$151 pricier homes ($30K more)
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 92%485$78,958$186,300— Very close on everything we compare
Imler, PA 16655 91%292$66,823$162,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
Paint Lick, KY 40461 91%120$71,212$201,800$148 larger
Deputy, IN 47230 91%100$80,729$238,400$129 pricier homes ($59K more) · younger residents
Munith, MI 49259 91%214$66,500$208,300$145 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger

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.