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 Conover, OH 45317

Conover: median income $61,429, home value $305,300, $202/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wawaka, IN 46794 88%118$63,583$211,000$173 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Woodland, MI 48897 76%186$69,531$224,600$204 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Willsboro, NY 12996 75%616$69,766$237,900$207 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · newer homes
Good Thunder, MN 56037 75%579$78,750$258,400$218 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Mead, NE 68041 74%657$74,000$251,300— cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Wilson, NY 14172 72%345$81,330$196,200$209 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Hanska, MN 56041 72%603$80,833$197,700$151 cheaper homes ($108K less) · younger residents
Mccloud, CA 96057 72%1,980$50,179$332,800$216 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Illinois City, IL 61259 71%369$91,458$201,100$232 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · 6 min longer commute
Dayton, WA 99328 71%1,747$72,756$272,100$147 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more renters
Hagaman, NY 12086 70%546$78,155$230,800$285 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Stanley, NY 14561 70%403$77,857$195,700$152 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · younger residents
Norway, IA 52318 70%427$85,625$188,400$124 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Brownsville, WI 53006 70%332$88,625$247,600$232 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Burnett, WI 53922 70%335$91,500$287,800$253 higher income ($30K more) · newer homes
Centerville, SD 57014 70%698$77,000$261,400$139 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Lead, SD 57754 70%1,052$66,250$218,000$288 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · more renters
Grace, ID 83241 70%1,440$71,298$215,200$182 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · younger residents
Landers, CA 92285 70%1,822$47,734$275,000$226 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · younger residents
Michigan Center, MI 49254 69%145$63,750$172,100$163 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · younger residents
Palmyra, MI 49268 69%119$80,833$164,600$176 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Griswold, IA 51535 69%586$76,371$152,300$137 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Silver Bay, MN 55614 69%614$72,981$181,700$156 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · newer homes
Chaumont, NY 13622 68%488$81,065$234,700$180 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · younger residents
Roann, IN 46974 68%114$61,528$179,600$139 cheaper homes ($126K less) · younger residents · 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.