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 Denver, IN 46926

Denver: median income $68,218, home value $152,500, $146/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cohocton, NY 14826 93%456$69,464$132,300$136 Very close on everything we compare
Holgate, OH 43527 93%104$58,821$136,300$120 larger
Mabel, MN 55954 93%346$66,250$159,600$155 Very close on everything we compare
Ohio City, OH 45874 92%74$68,521$135,100$117 Very close on everything we compare
Nebo, IL 62355 92%267$65,750$108,700— cheaper homes ($44K less)
Collins, NY 14034 91%387$62,412$151,200$134 larger
North Adams, MI 49262 91%111$54,423$144,900$139 Very close on everything we compare
Morning Sun, IA 52640 91%271$67,813$125,800$155 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Bay Port, MI 48720 90%248$60,250$139,100— Very close on everything we compare
Elsie, MI 48831 90%176$63,299$161,300$149 larger
Pittsford, MI 49271 90%110$56,389$147,300$141 larger
Sheffield, IA 50475 90%393$70,938$165,300$122 more renters
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 90%279$61,875$167,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Brownsdale, MN 55918 90%399$78,523$163,700$104 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle Bend, MN 56446 90%579$56,979$151,500$193 Very close on everything we compare
Novinger, MO 63559 90%351$60,481$132,500$143 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, KS 66871 90%535$71,094$145,100— Very close on everything we compare
Garrett, PA 15542 89%376$58,393$105,800$117 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Bradner, OH 43406 89%141$71,597$161,200$129 newer homes
Mendon, MI 49072 89%85$63,875$174,700$126 larger
Clayton, MI 49235 89%119$64,219$173,500$124 larger
Champion, MI 49814 89%397$77,356$161,900$163 newer homes
Rossiter, PA 15772 88%373$62,727$133,700$164 more renters
Bessemer, PA 16112 88%291$74,821$154,500$114 younger residents
Nevada, OH 44849 88%154$69,902$145,700$166 larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.