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 Flat Rock, IN 47234

Flat Rock: median income $101,708, home value $199,800, $148/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laura, OH 45337 95%84$108,162$228,700$155 pricier homes ($29K more)
Letts, IA 52754 93%315$104,250$194,300$131 Very close on everything we compare
Tonica, IL 61370 92%217$91,094$155,100$130 cheaper homes ($45K less)
North Lawrence, OH 44666 91%241$101,310$220,000$194 larger
Lucas, OH 44843 91%200$90,366$208,700$127 larger
Brownton, MN 55312 91%574$100,568$236,300$137 pricier homes ($37K more)
Lynn Center, IL 61262 91%274$86,250$244,700$119 pricier homes ($45K more)
Sidney, IL 61877 91%130$96,750$209,700$146 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, NJ 08311 90%564$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($48K more)
West Mansfield, OH 43358 90%138$89,121$218,600$133 older residents
Sterling, OH 44276 90%234$86,583$231,300$152 pricier homes ($32K more)
Milladore, WI 54454 90%418$82,589$170,200$129 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Colton, SD 57018 90%653$97,500$252,700$146 pricier homes ($53K more)
Reynolds, IL 61279 90%290$87,656$161,500$128 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older homes
Worden, IL 62097 90%221$91,011$217,900$132 larger
Cato, NY 13033 89%545$93,092$172,300$140 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Darien Center, NY 14040 89%454$88,779$210,100$141 older residents
Marion Station, MD 21838 89%547$88,438$202,400$193 newer homes
Tornado, WV 25202 89%223$96,328$198,600$122 newer homes
Rushsylvania, OH 43347 89%135$93,893$157,600$122 cheaper homes ($42K less) · newer homes
New Riegel, OH 44853 89%173$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($44K less)
Fairbank, IA 50629 89%396$103,106$207,100$126 Very close on everything we compare
Eldorado, WI 54932 89%342$110,125$271,000$202 pricier homes ($71K more)
Rose Creek, MN 55970 89%468$85,000$211,900$161 smaller
Bowlus, MN 56314 89%625$95,972$262,800$175 pricier homes ($63K more) · 6 min longer 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.