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 Middlebury, IN 46540

Middlebury: median income $96,615, home value $313,700, $159/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shelley, ID 83274 94%1,344$92,669$379,300$185 pricier homes ($66K more)
Moxee, WA 98936 93%1,737$99,280$364,700$205 pricier homes ($51K more)
Thatcher, AZ 85552 90%1,449$88,454$290,900$194 smaller
Millersburg, OH 44654 89%216$79,345$297,800$197 larger
Coopersville, MI 49404 89%96$86,096$295,100$195 Very close on everything we compare
Brusly, LA 70719 89%839$105,522$233,100$163 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Pea Ridge, AR 72751 89%577$95,299$296,300$202 newer homes
Troutman, NC 28166 88%489$93,511$348,600$191 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Watertown, MN 55388 88%467$99,375$356,900$191 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Strafford, MO 65757 88%497$85,243$235,500$185 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Gravette, AR 72736 88%594$79,209$279,000$194 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Hobbs, NM 88242 88%1,135$90,000$260,200$198 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, PA 17517 87%510$99,202$296,700$204 older residents
Sugarcreek, OH 44681 87%226$85,769$316,600$194 older homes
Lowell, AR 72745 87%587$91,207$281,800$212 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more renters
Roosevelt, UT 84066 87%1,267$79,494$286,800$182 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Zillah, WA 98953 87%1,733$84,766$368,300$216 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Gap, PA 17527 86%520$94,788$324,900$175 smaller
Stevens, PA 17578 86%508$81,990$314,900$196 smaller · older residents
Graniteville, SC 29829 86%600$84,228$246,900$154 cheaper homes ($67K less) · newer homes
Middleville, MI 49333 86%71$89,214$324,700$203 older residents
Elk Mound, WI 54739 86%372$88,667$260,400$180 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 86%508$80,156$292,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Vernon, TX 75457 86%785$83,916$249,800$178 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older residents
Hyrum, UT 84319 86%1,344$89,189$425,200$195 pricier homes ($112K 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.