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 Van Buren, OH 45889

Van Buren: median income $93,750, home value $315,200, $161/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Courtland, MN 56021 89%585$96,563$276,800$140 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Sabin, MN 56580 89%751$107,813$282,200$165 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min longer commute
Aurora, UT 84620 89%1,498$88,810$299,700$130 newer homes
Cutler, IN 46920 87%153$100,074$280,500— cheaper homes ($35K less) · 8 min longer commute
Pleasanton, NE 68866 87%806$94,792$262,300— cheaper homes ($53K less)
Boyden, IA 51234 86%647$84,318$211,800— cheaper homes ($103K less)
Hampton, NE 68843 86%741$92,778$250,000$140 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · older residents
Juniata, NE 68955 86%777$90,850$266,400$151 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Marne, MI 49435 85%174$103,432$383,800$208 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Humphrey, NE 68642 85%718$93,798$266,400$191 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Arlington, NE 68002 84%657$93,220$299,700$130 larger · older residents
Deansboro, NY 13328 83%440$105,000$204,000$166 cheaper homes ($111K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hoagland, IN 46745 83%72$89,643$242,400$143 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
East Leroy, MI 49051 82%110$74,886$259,500$187 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Cleveland, WI 53015 82%285$88,810$222,200$164 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Congerville, IL 61729 82%292$101,172$259,100— cheaper homes ($56K less) · 5 min longer commute
Teutopolis, IL 62467 82%290$96,406$232,800$128 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Holland Patent, NY 13354 81%454$101,733$241,900$158 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Alton, IA 51003 81%647$101,250$232,700$119 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Waldo, WI 53093 81%281$101,429$274,800$223 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Philo, IL 61864 81%249$110,139$230,000$123 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 7 min longer commute
Galva, KS 67443 81%761$88,938$220,600$137 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Pedricktown, NJ 08067 80%443$111,912$325,600$154 9 min longer commute
West Bend, IA 50597 80%568$92,000$179,700— cheaper homes ($136K less)
Denver, IA 50622 80%459$95,089$254,100$144 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger

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.