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 Wawaka, IN 46794

Wawaka: median income $63,583, home value $211,000, $173/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Conover, OH 45317 88%118$61,429$305,300$202 pricier homes ($94K more)
Luna Pier, MI 48157 88%108$61,641$188,800$193 Very close on everything we compare
West Springfield, PA 16443 87%261$70,344$163,400$189 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Darlington, PA 16115 86%266$68,571$185,400$161 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Homeworth, OH 44634 86%235$80,136$184,600$203 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · newer homes
Willsboro, NY 12996 85%643$69,766$237,900$207 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Sterling, NY 13156 85%467$64,063$162,500$168 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Rudolph, WI 54475 85%302$79,500$196,700$186 newer homes
Silver Bay, MN 55614 85%496$72,981$181,700$156 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · newer homes
Colo, IA 50056 84%405$73,333$184,500$148 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Griswold, IA 51535 84%501$76,371$152,300$137 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Essex, IA 51638 84%512$59,107$120,700$162 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Alma, WI 54610 84%380$61,563$207,000$194 more renters
Good Thunder, MN 56037 84%469$78,750$258,400$218 pricier homes ($47K more)
Valier, MT 59486 84%1,387$56,875$182,900$216 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Mayfield, NY 12117 83%585$66,000$208,500$158 larger · newer homes
Lyons Falls, NY 13368 83%536$62,159$128,700$147 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Kingsville, OH 44048 83%251$78,690$175,000$167 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · newer homes
Cassville, WI 53806 83%294$64,076$164,600$199 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Stanley, NY 14561 82%439$77,857$195,700$152 larger · younger residents
Spring Church, PA 15686 82%319$49,977$227,100$182 newer homes
Flintstone, MD 21530 82%382$63,542$202,400$137 newer homes
Lowellville, OH 44436 82%258$69,514$143,700$125 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
North Benton, OH 44449 82%234$62,188$163,600$135 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Elsie, MI 48831 82%126$63,299$161,300$149 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger 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.