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 Geneva, IN 46740

Geneva: median income $58,484, home value $158,900, $125/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spartansburg, PA 16434 94%286$59,420$145,300$113 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, OH 43014 85%142$66,481$220,900$112 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents
Hazleton, IA 50641 85%385$67,115$156,000$148 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Smicksburg, PA 16256 84%304$60,398$155,400— smaller · 6 min longer commute
Randolph, MS 38864 84%502$54,130$161,500$79 smaller · newer homes
Conewango Valley, NY 14726 83%328$55,156$98,900$127 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Dorset, OH 44032 82%235$55,188$167,600$120 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Murray, IA 50174 82%471$67,250$132,400$122 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Ballard, WV 24918 80%311$63,594$140,800— smaller · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Decker, MI 48426 80%221$62,169$126,000— cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Lockesburg, AR 71846 80%682$56,250$124,700$162 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older residents
Dayton, PA 16222 79%299$64,688$158,400$138 older residents · 8 min longer commute
Pierpont, OH 44082 79%242$51,687$151,800$115 smaller · older residents
Loyal, WI 54446 79%400$74,342$159,600$112 older residents
Overton, TX 75684 79%799$57,273$156,100$173 larger · older residents
Loganton, PA 17747 78%401$71,731$208,000$176 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Worthington, WV 26591 78%260$61,071$124,000$98 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Burnsville, MS 38833 78%437$52,917$142,300— smaller · older residents
Greenwood, WI 54437 78%405$67,097$158,500$116 older residents
Morrisville, NY 13408 75%505$68,750$178,400$130 10 min shorter commute
Windham, OH 44288 75%209$69,205$160,100$142 older residents
Joseph City, AZ 86032 75%1,433$73,194$177,000— smaller · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Marathon, NY 13803 74%479$63,713$140,800$106 older residents
Hardyville, KY 42746 74%238$50,000$115,200$126 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents
Granton, WI 54436 74%390$61,048$168,000$156 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.