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 Upland, IN 46989

Upland: median income $82,074, home value $219,400, $125/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedarville, OH 45314 86%102$84,844$313,400$188 pricier homes ($94K more)
Gambier, OH 43022 82%164$94,712$315,900$209 pricier homes ($97K more)
Saint Marys, KS 66536 77%567$85,568$224,600$151 Very close on everything we compare
Gruver, TX 79040 77%907$84,583$156,400$122 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · older residents
Cimarron, KS 67835 76%815$79,877$215,900$117 smaller · older residents · more renters
Hamilton, NY 13346 75%539$60,600$214,600$181 6 min shorter commute
Athens, WV 24712 75%320$80,625$213,800$167 smaller · 9 min longer commute
Elon, NC 27244 75%443$75,323$278,000$174 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · newer homes
Epworth, IA 52045 74%313$91,667$263,500$141 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · older residents
Denver, IA 50622 73%385$95,089$254,100$144 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older residents
Castle Dale, UT 84513 73%1,352$82,958$218,200$152 smaller · older residents
New Wilmington, PA 16142 72%275$84,205$226,300$153 older residents
Spring Arbor, MI 49283 72%131$108,464$218,400$172 higher income ($26K more) · older residents
Sioux Center, IA 51250 72%579$94,119$294,000$144 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · older residents
Dieterich, IL 62424 72%183$84,635$225,800$142 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Lindsborg, KS 67456 72%661$82,409$205,500$102 older residents · older homes
Ball, LA 71405 72%734$76,318$179,400$139 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Mooreville, MS 38857 71%459$93,021$190,000$168 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · less walkable
Atlantic Mine, MI 49905 71%485$77,617$211,300$122 smaller · older residents
Kalona, IA 52247 71%331$91,450$298,900$151 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Elsah, IL 62028 71%278$72,031$170,900$126 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · more renters
Nashport, OH 43830 70%182$88,346$234,100$186 older residents
Anna, OH 45302 70%68$91,602$242,300$178 older residents
Coldwater, OH 45828 70%45$72,703$252,100$132 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Waverly, IA 50677 70%391$85,633$232,800$141 larger · 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.