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 Spiceland, IN 47385

Spiceland: median income $103,406, home value $211,200, $161/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canistota, SD 57012 91%663$94,375$180,200$199 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Logan, IA 51546 90%556$86,910$207,900$163 larger
Helena, OH 43435 89%152$89,000$176,400$167 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Mapleton, MN 56065 88%521$92,933$223,100$146 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Clifton, IL 60927 88%151$102,143$213,700$144 newer homes
Berlin, NY 12022 87%657$96,875$208,100$221 smaller · older residents
Plain, WI 53577 87%338$96,500$271,100$154 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents
Malta, IL 60150 87%230$86,719$188,400$200 newer homes
East Bethany, NY 14054 86%435$79,286$172,300$142 cheaper homes ($39K less)
White Deer, TX 79097 86%911$88,182$144,600— cheaper homes ($67K less)
Gowrie, IA 50543 85%491$91,563$155,100— cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Waterman, IL 60556 85%219$100,186$234,800$180 7 min longer commute
Colfax, IL 61728 85%175$97,159$155,200$100 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Kendall, NY 14476 84%453$90,536$188,800$192 more homeowners · newer homes
Luckey, OH 43443 84%153$97,917$207,100$115 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 84%215$81,625$159,300$191 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Paris, OH 44669 84%236$82,411$202,100$153 older residents
Hooper, NE 68031 84%593$80,605$208,300$124 6 min shorter commute
Milford Center, OH 43045 83%109$99,181$275,000$176 pricier homes ($64K more) · more homeowners
Woodville, OH 43469 83%156$86,410$205,500$161 larger · older residents
Ellendale, MN 56026 83%492$100,169$232,700$181 older residents · more homeowners
Pender, NE 68047 83%609$87,375$217,000$111 7 min shorter commute
Memphis, NY 13112 82%519$96,615$195,400$160 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Calmar, IA 52132 82%407$100,559$231,600$124 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Friend, NE 68359 82%626$90,909$179,900$109 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners · newer 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.