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 Ida, MI 48140

Ida: median income $109,257, home value $288,400, $151/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milo, IA 50166 94%511$107,279$252,900$135 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Holdingford, MN 56340 92%604$96,250$294,900$188 smaller
Kingston, IL 60145 92%266$108,477$268,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Grant Park, IL 60940 92%214$97,361$271,900$163 Very close on everything we compare
Metamora, OH 43540 90%20$119,583$259,300$167 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Lester Prairie, MN 55354 90%565$97,941$268,900$143 Very close on everything we compare
De Graff, OH 43318 89%108$91,520$215,900$143 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Buskirk, NY 12028 88%523$96,891$247,700— cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Bethel, PA 19507 88%392$93,177$271,700$172 6 min shorter commute
Kouts, IN 46347 88%181$95,348$255,400$173 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Grabill, IN 46741 88%83$102,281$330,200$190 pricier homes ($42K more) · newer homes
Elberfeld, IN 47613 88%323$112,112$224,200$123 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Greenleaf, WI 54126 88%280$99,310$283,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Freeport, MN 56331 88%612$96,042$271,800$169 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Laura, OH 45337 87%136$108,162$228,700$155 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
Black Creek, WI 54106 87%304$97,500$277,800$199 Very close on everything we compare
Danvers, IL 61732 87%305$107,941$224,400$129 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older residents
Bethel, MN 55005 86%540$109,107$340,600$178 pricier homes ($52K more) · newer homes
Henderson, MN 56044 86%552$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · older residents
Raymond, OH 43067 85%105$95,903$303,100$194 smaller · newer homes
Lizton, IN 46149 85%206$88,750$247,800$179 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Kimball, MN 55353 85%587$83,854$345,900$177 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($58K more)
Bowlus, MN 56314 85%604$95,972$262,800$175 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Taylor Ridge, IL 61284 85%370$100,505$236,900$204 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Lawson, MO 64062 85%580$92,277$274,400$163 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.