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 Fort Jennings, OH 45844

Fort Jennings: median income $88,792, home value $231,300, $123/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amboy, IN 46911 95%93$95,122$209,300$135 smaller
Marathon, WI 54448 94%395$94,432$246,900$158 Very close on everything we compare
Doniphan, NE 68832 94%738$96,641$250,000$154 Very close on everything we compare
Russell, PA 16345 93%273$95,192$186,400$137 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Oakfield, WI 53065 93%291$99,583$261,800$174 pricier homes ($31K more)
Reedsville, WI 54230 93%292$87,688$227,200$125 older homes
Edgar, WI 54426 92%400$78,942$218,200$116 Very close on everything we compare
Eland, WI 54427 92%369$83,958$189,800$134 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Turbotville, PA 17772 91%391$81,146$241,900$136 younger residents
Ferdinand, IN 47532 91%234$84,750$236,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Casco, WI 54205 91%304$90,781$252,900$140 younger residents
Auburndale, WI 54412 91%388$83,576$217,100$187 Very close on everything we compare
Jim Falls, WI 54748 91%455$78,750$235,100$161 smaller
Neoga, IL 62447 91%249$87,292$154,400$151 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Inman, KS 67546 91%745$76,739$192,800$107 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Hershey, NE 69143 91%874$90,625$197,900$105 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · younger residents
Waldron, IN 46182 90%127$89,567$254,300$146 smaller · older residents
Bark River, MI 49807 90%360$75,329$178,800$135 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Fairbank, IA 50629 90%418$103,106$207,100$126 Very close on everything we compare
Dalton, MN 56324 90%686$82,917$252,600$160 smaller
Oreana, IL 62554 90%253$95,625$152,600$122 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Syracuse, NE 68446 90%625$90,746$236,700$127 Very close on everything we compare
Crofton, NE 68730 90%695$76,944$208,600$151 younger residents
Verona, NY 13478 89%470$83,986$185,800$196 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Darien Center, NY 14040 89%329$88,779$210,100$141 smaller · 7 min longer commute

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.