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 Hamlet, IN 46532

Hamlet: median income $84,866, home value $145,100, $138/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hardin, MO 64035 92%407$86,756$138,300$144 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Helena, OH 43435 91%170$89,000$176,400$167 pricier homes ($31K more)
Shiloh, OH 44878 91%214$74,821$179,500$138 pricier homes ($34K more)
Hopkinton, IA 52237 91%248$84,063$166,800$104 Very close on everything we compare
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 90%279$81,625$159,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Tiro, OH 44887 90%201$85,793$135,000$159 smaller · 7 min longer commute
White Deer, TX 79097 90%889$88,182$144,600— more renters
Convoy, OH 45832 88%103$83,000$161,200$186 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Grover Hill, OH 45849 88%112$77,841$124,500$99 smaller
Forreston, IL 61030 88%162$71,655$157,200$130 older residents
Shelton, NE 68876 88%634$82,207$163,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Payne, OH 45880 87%99$69,500$124,700$140 older residents
Atlanta, IL 61723 87%159$85,230$150,800$113 older residents
Scipio Center, NY 13147 86%522$74,934$155,600$152 smaller
Lyons, MI 48851 86%138$65,726$158,000$137 older residents
Forrest, IL 61741 86%104$87,850$167,700$99 6 min shorter commute
Lyndon, KS 66451 86%517$76,908$158,500$123 older residents
Happy, TX 79042 86%946$70,590$148,500$161 smaller
East Bethany, NY 14054 85%446$79,286$172,300$142 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents · more renters
Elba, NY 14058 85%446$102,750$151,500$179 Very close on everything we compare
Kendall, NY 14476 85%457$90,536$188,800$192 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Bessemer, PA 16112 85%318$74,821$154,500$114 older residents
Port Trevorton, PA 17864 85%507$79,881$208,000$183 pricier homes ($63K more) · newer homes
Newhall, IA 52315 85%281$77,656$196,100$127 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Bloomington, WI 53804 85%244$82,917$165,800$114 smaller · older residents · newer homes

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.