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 Fowler, IN 47944

Fowler: median income $55,242, home value $131,400, $120/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Allegany, PA 16743 96%476$54,083$120,600$107 Very close on everything we compare
Rockwell City, IA 50579 96%398$61,108$126,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Masontown, PA 15461 95%394$57,596$124,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Bellwood, PA 16617 94%470$52,609$145,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, WV 26034 94%354$56,556$138,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Gallitzin, PA 16641 92%460$65,417$116,500$100 Very close on everything we compare
Edgerton, OH 43517 92%146$58,578$136,500$134 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, OH 43912 92%346$55,668$121,600$121 larger
Estherville, IA 51334 92%430$57,482$112,000$111 larger
Independence, MO 64054 92%392$59,719$117,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 91%446$52,500$102,500$92 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Nitro, WV 25143 91%329$53,205$128,600$108 larger
Kingsport, TN 37665 91%379$50,991$134,400$138 Very close on everything we compare
Shadyside, OH 43947 91%348$58,269$153,600$130 Very close on everything we compare
Hudson, MI 49247 91%176$59,787$150,100$126 larger · less walkable
Sigourney, IA 52591 91%260$62,404$156,500$130 pricier homes ($25K more)
Troy, KS 66087 91%417$56,875$127,300$133 smaller
Ballinger, TX 76821 91%933$63,380$112,900$94 Very close on everything we compare
Johnstown, PA 15909 90%443$61,016$110,200$107 older residents
Sebewaing, MI 48759 90%292$65,222$118,700$155 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, IL 61085 90%184$59,798$131,300$111 older residents
East Alton, IL 62024 90%190$56,761$126,500$102 larger
Lyons, NE 68038 90%484$51,362$117,700$112 smaller
Bentleyville, PA 15314 89%386$59,356$166,300$134 pricier homes ($35K more)
Reynoldsville, PA 15851 89%441$63,158$119,300$141 larger · 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.