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 Ripley, OH 45167

Ripley: median income $68,750, home value $167,300, $141/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Earlville, IL 60518 95%332$69,980$165,500$162 Very close on everything we compare
Weatherly, PA 18255 94%450$69,034$189,600$125 Very close on everything we compare
Gillett, PA 16925 93%432$64,792$172,700$138 Very close on everything we compare
Karns City, PA 16041 92%267$67,167$146,800$139 smaller
Momence, IL 60954 92%262$65,906$163,600$132 larger
Hopewell, PA 16650 91%309$62,426$157,700$132 smaller
Mc Alisterville, PA 17049 91%372$70,109$215,800$153 pricier homes ($49K more)
Richfield, PA 17086 91%380$61,875$194,200$107 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Kenbridge, VA 23944 91%335$59,321$146,700$144 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, IN 47356 91%128$67,049$167,800$124 larger
Amboy, IL 61310 91%355$69,756$165,800$113 older residents
Richmond, MO 64085 91%546$64,096$171,400$158 larger
Lockport, LA 70374 91%736$70,833$180,400$131 larger
Boswell, PA 15531 90%274$60,855$137,500$128 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Rossiter, PA 15772 90%298$62,727$133,700$164 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
East Brady, PA 16028 90%270$62,750$162,200$114 smaller
Stoneboro, PA 16153 90%266$63,750$149,300— Very close on everything we compare
Beaver Springs, PA 17812 90%376$59,338$160,100$171 smaller
Ulster, PA 18850 90%441$71,739$175,200$127 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Terra Alta, WV 26764 90%234$61,010$150,500$174 newer homes
Durand, MI 48429 90%287$67,725$160,700$145 larger
Bruce, WI 54819 90%600$56,650$162,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Crystal City, MO 63019 90%357$72,569$186,000$164 Very close on everything we compare
Elsberry, MO 63343 90%377$74,531$169,400$150 newer homes
Boonville, NY 13309 89%548$74,767$204,700$117 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · newer homes

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.