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 Auburn, IN 46706

Auburn: median income $80,965, home value $219,100, $162/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Columbia, SC 29170 95%554$74,902$212,800$153 Very close on everything we compare
Nederland, TX 77627 95%932$78,001$208,700$154 Very close on everything we compare
Casper, WY 82604 95%1,096$79,118$288,900$170 pricier homes ($70K more)
Charlotte, MI 48813 94%84$80,429$192,800$153 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Kaukauna, WI 54130 94%260$89,131$260,600$196 pricier homes ($42K more)
Sparta, WI 54656 94%343$72,379$214,400$155 Very close on everything we compare
Owatonna, MN 55060 94%455$84,906$251,100$159 pricier homes ($32K more)
Sand Springs, OK 74063 94%698$73,842$195,900$164 larger
Ocala, FL 34480 93%863$77,557$282,700$184 pricier homes ($64K more)
Paw Paw, MI 49079 93%75$73,333$234,400$165 smaller
Marshfield, MO 65706 93%504$74,830$234,700$169 5 min longer commute
Fort Gibson, OK 74434 93%670$73,363$191,300$167 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Graham, TX 76450 93%936$75,258$192,900$148 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Blackfoot, ID 83221 93%1,396$75,172$281,300$176 pricier homes ($62K more)
Muncy, PA 17756 92%430$77,043$222,700$135 smaller
Gardendale, AL 35071 92%537$82,074$261,600$153 pricier homes ($43K more) · 6 min longer commute
Wauseon, OH 43567 92%48$70,417$189,600$158 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Wilmington, OH 45177 92%146$74,051$226,300$183 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45806 92%67$82,587$212,400$171 smaller · older residents
Wapakoneta, OH 45895 92%71$74,783$188,300$168 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Mosinee, WI 54455 92%334$96,140$251,300$179 pricier homes ($32K more)
Brainerd, MN 56401 92%567$73,128$261,600$192 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Effingham, IL 62401 92%241$82,374$217,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MO 63755 92%368$78,750$252,100$144 pricier homes ($33K more)
Haysville, KS 67060 92%706$73,758$169,600$143 cheaper homes ($50K less)

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.