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 Marion, IN 46953

Marion: median income $46,288, home value $89,200, $72/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saginaw, MI 48602 90%218$46,984$73,600$75 older homes
Flint, MI 48507 89%196$46,554$111,300$88 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61101 89%216$46,163$90,600$92 more renters
Centralia, IL 62801 89%232$52,017$94,800$81 older residents
Arkansas City, KS 67005 89%657$54,516$95,400$87 smaller
Ponca City, OK 74601 89%670$52,067$99,700$89 6 min shorter commute
Jackson, MS 39212 88%627$50,722$112,900$67 Very close on everything we compare
Decatur, IL 62522 88%182$50,669$113,600$75 smaller · older homes
Enid, OK 73701 88%718$50,843$100,900$93 Very close on everything we compare
Plainview, TX 79072 88%983$47,255$114,000$96 Very close on everything we compare
Parkersburg, WV 26101 87%236$48,710$117,500$105 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Greenville, MS 38703 87%574$44,291$85,700$64 smaller
Rockford, IL 61102 87%215$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Decatur, IL 62526 87%179$49,062$95,100$83 older residents
Mobile, AL 36605 86%697$43,538$99,200$99 more renters
Saginaw, MI 48601 86%218$38,900$62,800$79 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Waterloo, IA 50703 86%371$50,060$95,900$84 Very close on everything we compare
Galesburg, IL 61401 86%248$50,546$100,600$91 older residents
Camden, AR 71701 86%622$49,110$113,700$94 older residents
Hope, AR 71801 86%645$45,345$99,400$70 smaller · newer homes
Bartlesville, OK 74003 86%615$47,168$113,500$103 smaller
Okmulgee, OK 74447 86%655$48,432$113,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
Brownfield, TX 79316 86%1,048$43,063$103,900$89 smaller
Sweetwater, TX 79556 86%988$49,393$94,900$111 smaller
Elmira, NY 14904 85%472$53,174$92,200$86 smaller · older 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.