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 Otwell, IN 47564

Otwell: median income $58,056, home value $155,100, $137/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lyons, OH 43533 94%275$64,342$169,800$136 Very close on everything we compare
Unity, WI 54488 89%470$63,571$142,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Geraldine, AL 35974 88%290$52,054$155,900$97 Very close on everything we compare
Carterville, MO 64835 88%411$58,849$97,600$142 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Stone Creek, OH 43840 87%323$63,750$154,200$185 older homes
Dorchester, WI 54425 87%482$63,424$175,000$101 Very close on everything we compare
Belle Rive, IL 62810 87%91$57,969$117,700— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Bay, AR 72411 87%267$55,625$111,400$134 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Granton, WI 54436 85%455$61,048$168,000$156 larger · 6 min longer commute
Murdock, MN 56271 85%632$64,861$222,700— pricier homes ($68K more)
Inverness, MS 38753 84%404$59,000$159,300— older residents
Hoffman, MN 56339 84%675$60,893$221,500$171 pricier homes ($66K more) · older residents
Pickton, TX 75471 84%596$77,934$122,000$134 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Pantego, NC 27860 83%606$62,083$145,300— more apartments and townhomes
Curtiss, WI 54422 83%481$71,667$156,300— younger residents
Loyal, WI 54446 83%467$74,342$159,600$112 larger
Wolsey, SD 57384 83%717$64,063$203,000$125 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Eunice, NM 88231 83%993$51,417$128,900$122 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more walkable
New Ellenton, SC 29809 82%462$55,234$154,800$156 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Guthrie, KY 42234 82%121$58,259$165,300$173 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kellogg, IA 50135 82%381$65,250$165,200$157 older residents · older homes
Bertha, MN 56437 82%673$60,345$123,300$133 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Ravenwood, MO 64479 82%425$61,184$150,700— older residents · 6 min longer commute
Duenweg, MO 64841 82%410$59,167$124,500$135 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · newer homes
Purdy, MO 65734 82%390$56,744$197,200$131 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger

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.