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 Houston, OH 45333

Houston: median income $63,906, home value $199,200, $163/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newhall, IA 52315 88%415$77,656$196,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
Wonewoc, WI 53968 88%382$74,479$207,600$198 Very close on everything we compare
Grace, ID 83241 88%1,422$71,298$215,200$182 older residents
Arlington, IN 46104 87%77$61,146$217,600$134 smaller
Reynolds, IN 47980 87%137$60,962$171,500$122 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Juda, WI 53550 87%311$73,438$228,900— pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters
Hector, MN 55342 87%611$64,861$169,300$153 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Leesburg, NJ 08327 86%502$61,528$198,500$128 larger
Bourbon, IN 46504 86%118$74,567$184,300$168 larger
Saranac, NY 12981 85%621$76,450$182,300$166 Very close on everything we compare
Claridge, PA 15623 85%249$57,335$251,500— pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Mentone, IN 46539 85%108$74,079$159,000$163 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more renters
Mooreland, IN 47360 85%51$76,250$187,200$167 older residents
Clarks Hill, IN 47930 85%125$60,719$149,400$135 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Oxford, IN 47971 85%154$64,375$152,600$149 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Jones, MI 49061 85%138$79,229$223,500$161 newer homes
Kellogg, IA 50135 85%458$65,250$165,200$157 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more renters
Thorp, WI 54771 85%462$65,625$186,400$128 larger
Argos, IN 46501 84%120$64,172$156,900$124 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Saint Joe, IN 46785 84%79$63,250$163,300$140 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Selma, IN 47383 84%49$61,250$135,400$163 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Fulton, MI 49052 84%140$63,889$202,900$117 newer homes
Elroy, WI 53929 84%389$65,568$187,000$130 larger · older residents
Stewart, MN 55385 84%600$78,125$206,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Concord, MI 49237 83%135$66,956$185,600$139 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.