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 West Alexandria, OH 45381

West Alexandria: median income $62,263, home value $204,900, $156/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Centerville, IN 47330 97%25$67,250$175,300$141 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Etowah, TN 37331 96%304$55,662$193,700$169 Very close on everything we compare
Osseo, WI 54758 96%478$67,930$220,100$152 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery, PA 17752 95%414$71,118$186,700$134 Very close on everything we compare
Farmland, IN 47340 95%45$63,205$175,200$139 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Jonesville, MI 49250 95%156$65,744$170,300$147 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Hillsboro, WI 54634 95%405$60,945$198,800$129 Very close on everything we compare
Browerville, MN 56438 95%681$62,500$203,000$192 smaller
Mill Hall, PA 17751 94%383$75,072$215,100$143 Very close on everything we compare
Meadowview, VA 24361 94%251$70,556$195,400$158 Very close on everything we compare
Gadsden, AL 35905 94%408$67,042$195,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Knightstown, IN 46148 94%53$63,914$186,800$128 Very close on everything we compare
Delphi, IN 46923 94%127$63,553$170,600$156 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Montrose, MI 48457 94%241$71,090$175,900$159 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Decatur, MI 49045 94%182$57,436$177,300$136 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Reading, MI 49274 94%147$58,087$171,100$137 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Camanche, IA 52730 94%332$64,543$177,200$141 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Brillion, WI 54110 94%357$73,685$223,900$150 Very close on everything we compare
Barron, WI 54812 94%540$63,100$161,700$137 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Volant, PA 16156 93%245$69,054$221,400— smaller
Factoryville, PA 18419 93%477$61,402$224,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Fairland, IN 46126 93%72$70,607$263,300$157 pricier homes ($58K more)
Pierceton, IN 46562 93%120$68,902$195,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, IN 47031 93%51$70,575$195,600$188 Very close on everything we compare
Chesaning, MI 48616 93%240$66,819$163,100$132 cheaper homes ($42K less)

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.