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 Dayton, IN 47941

Dayton: median income $78,553, home value $175,400, $146/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pennock, MN 56279 91%538$84,000$231,700$176 pricier homes ($56K more)
Jasper, MO 64755 90%456$77,643$158,200$127 larger · 6 min longer commute
Booker, TX 79005 90%791$70,223$155,900$114 Very close on everything we compare
Sherwood, OH 43556 89%133$73,125$195,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Chili, WI 54420 89%346$79,899$201,300$202 pricier homes ($26K more)
Wolsey, SD 57384 89%658$64,063$203,000$125 pricier homes ($28K more)
Little River Academy, TX 76554 89%878$75,500$177,300$151 larger · 6 min longer commute
Brewster, MN 56119 88%502$83,583$183,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Wayne, OK 73095 88%689$77,232$149,500$162 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Jones, MI 49061 87%117$79,229$223,500$161 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Elkton, SD 57026 87%564$80,568$213,200$130 pricier homes ($38K more) · more renters
Pickton, TX 75471 87%695$77,934$122,000$134 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Rudolph, OH 43462 86%174$88,000$166,800$114 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Jackson Center, OH 45334 86%144$70,595$196,800$156 larger · older residents
Mc Bain, MI 49657 86%277$76,250$196,400$165 larger · older residents
Inwood, IA 51240 86%537$83,929$232,600$123 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Stetsonville, WI 54480 86%370$68,333$179,900$158 older residents
Alma Center, WI 54611 86%352$71,667$164,600$137 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Brashear, MO 63533 86%298$79,464$187,500$109 older residents
Olpe, KS 66865 86%524$93,333$181,600$125 Very close on everything we compare
Wilson, AR 72395 86%377$78,507$149,100$139 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min longer commute
Eastaboga, AL 36260 85%470$73,007$160,900$157 larger
Lyons, OH 43533 85%168$64,342$169,800$136 larger · 6 min longer commute
Botkins, OH 45306 85%137$86,354$255,600$157 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger
Hull, IA 51239 85%520$77,540$236,500$161 pricier homes ($61K 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.