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 Arlington, IN 46104

Arlington: median income $61,146, home value $217,600, $134/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Malinta, OH 43535 93%140$67,083$172,100$141 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Waynesfield, OH 45896 93%108$62,449$173,000$145 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Ursa, IL 62376 91%308$57,778$178,000$150 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Berlin Heights, OH 44814 89%200$68,702$193,600$143 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fleming, CO 80728 89%914$67,863$225,000$126 Very close on everything we compare
Collins, NY 14034 88%400$62,412$151,200$134 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Lake Hamilton, FL 33851 88%834$62,284$236,400— newer homes
Fulton, MI 49052 88%173$63,889$202,900$117 newer homes
Elroy, WI 53929 88%373$65,568$187,000$130 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Stewart, MN 55385 88%573$78,125$206,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068 88%514$74,250$191,800$116 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Balaton, MN 56115 88%616$64,000$193,300$106 older residents
Oakley, ID 83346 88%1,480$70,114$268,500$186 pricier homes ($51K more)
Houston, OH 45333 87%77$63,906$199,200$163 larger
Aplington, IA 50604 87%430$66,776$168,200$133 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more walkable
Harmony, MN 55939 87%428$70,855$198,800$120 larger
Brooten, MN 56316 87%631$71,111$218,000$107 older residents
Otis, CO 80743 87%919$67,734$226,300$154 more renters
Saranac, NY 12981 86%698$76,450$182,300$166 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
North Rose, NY 14516 86%511$76,000$172,400$114 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Industry, PA 15052 86%282$73,352$193,100$137 larger
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 86%71$77,083$208,700$140 larger
Ohio City, OH 45874 86%92$68,521$135,100$117 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Schleswig, IA 51461 86%543$73,768$183,100— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dysart, IA 52224 86%392$69,805$177,000$90 cheaper homes ($41K 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.