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 Van Wert, OH 45891

Van Wert: median income $64,272, home value $152,100, $133/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wabash, IN 46992 96%65$66,220$159,900$118 Very close on everything we compare
Albert Lea, MN 56007 95%488$68,846$166,900$131 Very close on everything we compare
Marinette, WI 54143 94%330$64,491$142,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Two Rivers, WI 54241 94%274$61,014$156,300$146 Very close on everything we compare
Huntington, IN 46750 93%48$63,978$158,100$130 larger
Rochester, IN 46975 93%87$61,185$157,600$145 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47711 93%250$66,320$167,200$140 larger
Iron Mountain, MI 49801 93%384$67,337$168,700$125 Very close on everything we compare
Charles City, IA 50616 93%442$64,830$140,600$99 smaller
Evansdale, IA 50707 93%412$63,441$153,700$128 smaller
Clintonville, WI 54929 93%335$64,626$167,100$134 smaller
Dixon, IL 61021 93%263$69,127$148,500$126 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, MO 64504 93%547$58,801$127,100$112 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Beatrice, NE 68310 93%639$60,928$168,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Houlton, ME 04730 92%911$61,980$145,200$128 smaller
Brockway, PA 15824 92%302$64,623$155,600$144 smaller
Portland, IN 47371 92%37$64,000$123,000$111 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Battle Creek, MI 49017 92%105$60,885$152,900$125 Very close on everything we compare
Cresco, IA 52136 92%423$70,778$161,100$113 smaller
Sterling, IL 61081 92%273$67,586$123,400$113 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Taylorville, IL 62568 92%264$62,718$123,700$109 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chillicothe, MO 64601 92%478$63,061$153,900$108 Very close on everything we compare
Groves, TX 77619 92%918$73,710$163,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Harlan, IA 51537 91%559$65,000$166,800$108 smaller
Hibbing, MN 55746 91%612$55,823$134,600$116 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.