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 Warren, MI 48088

Warren: median income $81,601, home value $219,700, $150/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amherst, OH 44001 93%88$90,139$234,500$173 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, OH 44641 93%146$80,303$205,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
New Carlisle, OH 45344 93%187$78,471$174,600$176 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Jersey Shore, PA 17740 92%307$70,236$179,600$142 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Mogadore, OH 44260 92%132$82,444$210,200$182 smaller
Anderson, IN 46011 92%219$76,391$178,700$128 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
New Haven, IN 46774 92%145$76,292$187,300$156 cheaper homes ($32K less)
York, PA 17406 91%374$83,521$234,100$162 more apartments and townhomes
Muncy, PA 17756 91%332$77,043$222,700$135 smaller
Hobart, IN 46342 91%230$75,521$213,000$164 more renters
La Porte, IN 46350 91%201$74,307$212,600$148 larger
Boonville, IN 47601 91%382$78,663$194,500$150 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · older residents
Evansville, IN 47720 91%394$75,139$214,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Urbana, OH 43078 90%171$73,816$197,600$165 more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45248 90%248$84,510$217,100$172 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45251 90%240$74,614$185,300$159 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Lima, OH 45807 90%133$70,725$203,900$162 smaller
Martinsville, IN 46151 90%278$78,812$242,200$164 5 min longer commute
Knoxville, IA 50138 90%526$74,693$196,700$159 smaller
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024 90%626$77,895$197,900$177 Very close on everything we compare
Elizabeth, PA 15037 89%225$77,579$165,900$172 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Jermyn, PA 18433 89%385$75,000$213,900$147 smaller
Colonial Heights, VA 23834 89%468$84,338$253,400$184 pricier homes ($34K more) · more renters
Napoleon, OH 43545 89%98$78,548$170,900$151 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Swanton, OH 43558 89%78$74,173$206,300$162 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.