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 Lake Station, IN 46405

Lake Station: median income $60,881, home value $139,200, $139/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Childress, TX 79201 93%861$58,438$124,600$128 smaller
Bradley, IL 60915 92%43$60,563$156,700$176 Very close on everything we compare
Lamesa, TX 79331 91%1,011$54,000$101,800$112 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Reynoldsville, PA 15851 90%435$63,158$119,300$141 smaller · older residents
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 90%211$60,195$140,600$144 larger
Garnett, KS 66032 90%480$69,647$175,600$133 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Galena Park, TX 77547 90%931$50,991$111,500$113 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Fostoria, OH 44830 89%202$62,990$121,700$115 larger · older residents
Eastpointe, MI 48021 89%230$62,325$142,200$111 larger
Lincoln Park, MI 48146 89%215$58,616$131,000$130 larger
Snyder, TX 79549 89%966$59,147$112,000$122 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Shelby, OH 44875 88%244$61,276$161,500$139 Very close on everything we compare
Bronson, MI 49028 88%109$60,127$152,300$187 smaller
Kansas City, KS 66104 88%425$61,338$141,500$144 larger
Conneaut, OH 44030 87%345$63,533$145,800$139 older residents
Greenfield, OH 45123 87%255$62,404$161,700$106 Very close on everything we compare
Garden City, MI 48135 87%208$67,294$168,800$171 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Redford, MI 48240 87%212$60,390$135,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Hinton, OK 73047 87%731$63,784$160,000$122 smaller · newer homes
Tulsa, OK 74108 87%592$59,335$133,800$156 smaller
Shinnston, WV 26431 86%396$61,023$149,900$120 smaller
Montpelier, OH 43543 86%137$56,236$136,700$128 smaller · older residents
Rittman, OH 44270 86%288$63,650$170,200$170 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Clare, MI 48617 86%201$58,321$160,100$148 Very close on everything we compare
Momence, IL 60954 86%35$65,906$163,600$132 smaller · older residents

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.