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 Ligonier, IN 46767

Ligonier: median income $77,317, home value $193,100, $135/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wingate, NC 28174 92%528$71,136$226,700$184 pricier homes ($34K more)
Lovington, NM 88260 91%1,137$75,476$175,400$165 larger
West Columbia, TX 77486 90%1,022$74,857$240,200$137 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents
Seminole, TX 79360 90%1,116$79,467$219,200$157 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Beasley, TX 77417 89%1,012$75,405$184,300$151 smaller
Denver City, TX 79323 89%1,112$87,321$193,300$114 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, OH 43014 88%187$66,481$220,900$112 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Middlefield, OH 44062 88%236$73,960$213,600$193 larger
Windham, OH 44288 88%236$69,205$160,100$142 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Olivet, MI 49076 88%77$74,440$200,600$133 smaller
Theresa, NY 13691 87%531$79,943$173,400$147 smaller
Belleville, PA 17004 87%414$65,068$206,900$162 smaller · older residents
Dalzell, SC 29040 87%586$65,978$162,100$161 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Cokato, MN 55321 87%499$80,433$268,300$164 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Odem, TX 78370 87%1,154$69,570$176,700$153 smaller · older residents
Taft, TX 78390 87%1,146$78,367$135,700$130 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older residents
Merkel, TX 79536 87%1,008$71,131$136,400$157 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Marcy, NY 13403 86%539$86,300$226,600$168 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Winchester, OH 45697 86%202$71,439$205,900$160 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Loyal, WI 54446 86%334$74,342$159,600$112 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Hinton, OK 73047 86%803$63,784$160,000$122 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Howe, TX 75459 86%817$71,228$258,300$163 pricier homes ($65K more)
Gladewater, TX 75647 86%802$65,809$167,700$134 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents
Anahuac, TX 77514 86%958$85,139$215,200$166 smaller · older residents
Winnie, TX 77665 86%942$78,590$169,900$149 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.