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 Blue Creek, OH 45616

Blue Creek: median income $67,614, home value $182,700, $166/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Surry, VA 23883 86%375$76,719$239,400$206 pricier homes ($57K more)
Blounts Creek, NC 27814 85%424$77,368$166,700$190 more homeowners
Evant, TX 76525 85%973$80,208$169,800— 7 min shorter commute
Douglass, TX 75943 83%815$61,302$219,100$165 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Jefferson, NY 12093 81%524$65,321$174,800$192 more homeowners
Sparrow Bush, NY 12780 80%491$74,468$221,700$190 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Grafton, IL 62037 80%382$73,454$228,500$143 pricier homes ($46K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Albion, ME 04910 79%817$62,361$230,900$185 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Nickelsville, VA 24271 79%149$58,625$161,500$166 larger
Mathias, WV 26812 79%240$64,375$144,200$158 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Hughes, AR 72348 79%475$64,464$130,300$182 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Brookeland, TX 75931 79%802$79,514$233,800$160 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Whitingham, VT 05361 78%612$75,714$247,400$166 pricier homes ($65K more) · younger residents
Moriah, NY 12960 78%625$64,702$144,300$153 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Westfield, NC 27053 78%227$67,974$224,500$180 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Brooker, FL 32622 78%615$72,639$233,100$162 pricier homes ($50K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Liberty, TN 37095 78%240$64,792$189,200$212 8 min shorter commute
Shady Valley, TN 37688 78%174$53,333$164,300$176 more homeowners · more single-family homes · older homes
Bradford, ME 04410 77%857$82,955$176,200$163 more homeowners
Montvale, VA 24122 77%218$66,563$198,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Hillsboro, WV 24946 77%172$60,625$227,000— pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Gay, GA 30218 77%397$68,250$193,900$221 younger residents
Holton, IN 47023 77%111$68,750$218,500$196 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · younger residents
Port Sanilac, MI 48469 77%324$56,023$162,700$134 7 min shorter commute
Gouldsboro, ME 04607 76%878$60,152$253,400$270 pricier homes ($71K more) · more walkable

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.