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 Michigantown, IN 46057

Michigantown: median income $53,173, home value $187,600, $137/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ursa, IL 62376 90%264$57,778$178,000$150 more homeowners
Lockwood, MO 65682 89%455$53,590$164,300$143 newer homes
Ponca, NE 68770 89%557$71,607$199,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Hill, NE 68930 89%634$65,875$184,000$135 Very close on everything we compare
Sigourney, IA 52591 88%313$62,404$156,500$130 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Alcester, SD 57001 88%561$69,531$177,400$166 Very close on everything we compare
Herminie, PA 15637 87%351$70,461$220,600$159 pricier homes ($33K more)
Fredonia, PA 16124 87%327$55,455$171,500— Very close on everything we compare
Harlowton, MT 59036 87%1,247$50,000$186,000$91 5 min shorter commute
Big Sandy, MT 59520 87%1,286$62,109$204,000$130 5 min shorter commute
Rushville, NE 69360 87%848$52,402$116,000— cheaper homes ($72K less)
Laverne, OK 73848 87%771$57,619$124,200— cheaper homes ($63K less)
Rising Star, TX 76471 87%900$54,773$141,700$142 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Cameron, WV 26033 86%309$55,972$153,600— cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Preston, MN 55965 86%374$65,577$206,700$163 larger
Balaton, MN 56115 86%556$64,000$193,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Westbrook, MN 56183 86%530$45,536$138,400$109 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Concordia, MO 64020 86%394$59,269$201,500$138 larger
Lyons, NE 68038 86%537$51,362$117,700$112 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Fullerton, NE 68638 86%610$56,917$144,500$96 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Wakefield, NE 68784 86%561$62,216$144,900$145 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Morrill, NE 69358 86%918$52,159$152,800$137 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Akron, CO 80720 86%887$65,913$219,100$96 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Mars Hill, ME 04758 85%1,020$65,156$162,200$120 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Castile, NY 14427 85%459$56,490$134,800$128 cheaper homes ($53K 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.