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.

Reset

Towns most like Laura, OH 45337

Laura: median income $108,162, home value $228,700, $155/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Flat Rock, IN 47234 95%84$101,708$199,800$148 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Dansville, MI 48819 95%178$110,833$254,500$156 pricier homes ($26K more)
Bowlus, MN 56314 95%647$95,972$262,800$175 pricier homes ($34K more)
Claypool, IN 46510 93%110$99,420$208,300$177 larger
Milo, IA 50166 92%483$107,279$252,900$135 6 min longer commute
Colton, SD 57018 92%697$97,500$252,700$146 Very close on everything we compare
Newburg, PA 17240 91%361$91,429$256,300$175 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Marion Station, MD 21838 91%483$88,438$202,400$193 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Utica, IL 61373 91%259$109,000$237,200$166 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe Center, IL 61052 90%282$91,797$225,700$174 older residents
Island, KY 42350 89%230$103,875$168,000$125 cheaper homes ($61K less)
San Pierre, IN 46374 89%155$91,250$226,900$132 Very close on everything we compare
Holdingford, MN 56340 89%645$96,250$294,900$188 pricier homes ($66K more)
Grant Park, IL 60940 89%192$97,361$271,900$163 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Loda, IL 60948 89%198$106,250$229,600$142 older residents
Bunker Hill, IL 62014 89%303$93,233$204,400$128 larger
Cato, NY 13033 88%461$93,092$172,300$140 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Lone Tree, IA 52755 88%383$102,434$242,700$127 Very close on everything we compare
Casco, WI 54205 88%358$90,781$252,900$140 5 min shorter commute
Arpin, WI 54410 88%427$84,135$213,200— larger
Hatley, WI 54440 88%420$90,921$222,700$148 larger · older residents
Worden, IL 62097 88%300$91,011$217,900$132 larger
Windthorst, TX 76389 88%892$98,750$229,200$122 newer homes
Buskirk, NY 12028 87%603$96,891$247,700— younger residents
Valley Falls, NY 12185 87%597$110,625$210,900$182 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.