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 Dale, IN 47523

Dale: median income $66,548, home value $123,800, $177/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millport, AL 35576 94%327$72,292$120,800— Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, WV 25840 93%321$67,628$132,400$169 larger
Flemington, WV 26347 92%378$61,250$112,200$221 Very close on everything we compare
Terra Alta, WV 26764 92%411$61,010$150,500$174 pricier homes ($27K more)
Elsberry, MO 63343 92%217$74,531$169,400$150 pricier homes ($46K more)
Centerville, PA 16404 90%454$65,972$156,200— pricier homes ($32K more)
Alexandria, PA 16611 90%503$70,887$167,500— pricier homes ($44K more)
Boonville, NC 27011 90%375$65,698$168,300$187 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older residents
Lewisburg, KY 42256 90%81$58,794$140,400$153 Very close on everything we compare
New Holland, OH 43145 90%224$73,500$177,600$173 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Lynchburg, OH 45142 90%187$66,844$167,100$165 pricier homes ($43K more)
Mayville, MI 48744 90%406$67,944$159,800$162 pricier homes ($36K more)
Lakeview, MI 48850 90%374$68,047$178,400$168 pricier homes ($55K more)
Sherwood, MI 49089 90%281$69,286$128,800$202 smaller
Pleasantville, IA 50225 90%399$69,923$168,500$175 pricier homes ($45K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Greenfield, IL 62044 90%191$71,146$113,000$171 smaller
Urich, MO 64788 90%378$71,705$166,400$164 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Osawatomie, KS 66064 90%432$67,321$172,100$164 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Ashdown, AR 71822 90%505$59,167$123,100$140 larger
Parish, NY 13131 89%675$70,286$147,800$178 Very close on everything we compare
Stoneboro, PA 16153 89%427$63,750$149,300— pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hopewell, PA 16650 89%485$62,426$157,700$132 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Waverly, VA 23890 89%548$64,063$172,900$170 pricier homes ($49K more) · newer homes
Peytona, WV 25154 89%288$67,243$106,900— smaller
Williamsport, OH 43164 89%231$68,000$190,300$199 pricier homes ($67K 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.