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 Saint John, IN 46373

Saint John: median income $127,146, home value $408,900, $187/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Macomb, MI 48042 97%249$126,667$410,000$192 larger
Shorewood, IL 60404 96%39$122,171$335,800$190 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Elgin, IL 60124 95%61$139,982$430,900$211 Very close on everything we compare
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 94%625$140,403$405,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
Mokena, IL 60448 94%22$120,761$385,900$208 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, IL 60423 93%19$136,730$398,200$215 larger
Sharpsburg, GA 30277 92%577$120,379$394,200$196 Very close on everything we compare
Hoschton, GA 30548 92%547$111,257$460,800$195 pricier homes ($52K more)
Saint Michael, MN 55376 92%405$131,266$389,200$185 younger residents
Homer Glen, IL 60491 92%27$138,571$424,700$212 older homes
Bulverde, TX 78163 92%1,014$140,594$435,600$207 pricier homes ($27K more)
Parrish, FL 34219 91%1,002$113,773$454,900$200 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Chelsea, AL 35043 91%565$121,356$366,200$175 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Trussville, AL 35173 91%542$117,105$345,300$184 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Oxford, MI 48371 91%235$111,239$370,200$196 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Elburn, IL 60119 91%59$130,722$402,300$215 smaller
Sugar Grove, IL 60554 91%55$122,734$386,400$205 smaller
Forest Hill, MD 21050 90%596$125,208$456,800$204 pricier homes ($48K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Crestwood, KY 40014 90%240$121,189$393,700$187 Very close on everything we compare
Clarkston, MI 48348 90%228$129,410$444,500$212 pricier homes ($36K more)
Algonquin, IL 60102 90%65$132,949$349,900$206 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
New Lenox, IL 60451 90%26$137,404$393,100$212 larger · younger residents
Vail, AZ 85641 90%1,436$131,164$415,100$204 larger
Palmyra, VA 22963 89%544$104,259$327,900$203 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Chesterfield, VA 23838 89%597$134,651$465,500$206 pricier homes ($57K more)

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.