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 New Ross, IN 47968

New Ross: median income $83,242, home value $213,400, $230/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chaffee, NY 14030 94%464$78,182$218,700$209 larger
Malvern, IA 51551 94%469$85,469$212,400$250 Very close on everything we compare
Wonewoc, WI 53968 94%309$74,479$207,600$198 larger
Claremont, MN 55924 94%426$78,558$243,500$194 pricier homes ($30K more)
Schleswig, IA 51461 93%477$73,768$183,100— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Argyle, WI 53504 93%247$83,690$220,700$188 larger
Randolph, WI 53956 93%271$84,231$232,800$226 larger
Coal Center, PA 15423 92%363$77,857$185,900$215 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Richland, PA 17087 92%554$93,150$225,200$219 larger
Kingsley, IA 51028 92%512$78,000$219,600$202 larger
Brownsville, WI 53006 92%266$88,625$247,600$232 pricier homes ($34K more)
Cambria, WI 53923 92%276$72,500$220,700$184 larger
Buffalo Lake, MN 55314 92%518$79,500$179,200$243 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
Dakota, IL 61018 92%221$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($56K less)
Hanoverton, OH 44423 91%312$80,583$177,700$196 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · newer homes
Blairstown, IA 52209 91%308$86,094$223,400$278 Very close on everything we compare
Reeseville, WI 53579 91%253$79,792$239,100$207 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min longer commute
Rose Creek, MN 55970 91%400$85,000$211,900$161 Very close on everything we compare
Humphrey, NE 68642 91%573$93,798$266,400$191 pricier homes ($53K more)
Erving, MA 01344 90%764$77,656$271,800$209 pricier homes ($58K more)
Fonda, NY 12068 90%671$72,788$170,100$190 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Kendall, NY 14476 90%506$90,536$188,800$192 larger
Woodville, OH 43469 90%204$86,410$205,500$161 larger
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215 90%265$80,893$222,900$199 larger
New Riegel, OH 44853 90%195$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($57K less)

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.