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.

Reset

Towns most like Hope, IN 47246

Hope: median income $94,375, home value $197,800, $188/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wayne, OH 43466 94%184$87,438$177,400$208 smaller
Convoy, OH 45832 93%125$83,000$161,200$186 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Marcy, NY 13403 92%606$86,300$226,600$168 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Port Trevorton, PA 17864 92%479$79,881$208,000$183 smaller
Bethel, PA 19507 92%510$93,177$271,700$172 pricier homes ($74K more)
De Graff, OH 43318 91%120$91,520$215,900$143 Very close on everything we compare
North Lawrence, OH 44666 91%243$101,310$220,000$194 older residents
Anna, OH 45302 91%112$91,602$242,300$178 pricier homes ($45K more)
Harrod, OH 45850 90%137$84,886$193,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Taylor Ridge, IL 61284 90%298$100,505$236,900$204 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Buckner, MO 64016 90%452$98,323$214,800$163 5 min longer commute
Lakin, KS 67860 90%841$88,264$194,400$246 smaller
Elba, NY 14058 89%474$102,750$151,500$179 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Kendall, NY 14476 89%488$90,536$188,800$192 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Jones, MI 49061 89%180$79,229$223,500$161 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Randolph, WI 53956 89%337$84,231$232,800$226 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Le Center, MN 56057 89%539$91,250$248,300$161 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents
Freeport, MN 56331 89%631$96,042$271,800$169 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller
Aberdeen, ID 83210 89%1,425$74,615$213,300$184 Very close on everything we compare
Burton, OH 44021 88%285$82,008$242,900$170 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents
Botkins, OH 45306 88%117$86,354$255,600$157 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Monroe, IA 50170 88%415$88,704$217,000$149 older residents
Jesup, IA 50648 88%394$95,353$226,400$145 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Mediapolis, IA 52637 88%306$81,477$194,500$169 Very close on everything we compare
Goodhue, MN 55027 88%496$93,043$312,300$219 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller

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.