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 Maybee, MI 48159

Maybee: median income $74,519, home value $234,600, $206/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ringtown, PA 17967 92%386$77,321$187,500$179 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Argyle, WI 53504 92%327$83,690$220,700$188 Very close on everything we compare
Bear Creek, WI 54922 92%315$76,350$218,100$166 smaller
Markleville, IN 46056 91%178$72,423$229,600$207 newer homes
Chester, MA 01011 90%539$89,299$291,400$223 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Cazenovia, WI 53924 90%358$72,333$222,400$218 smaller · newer homes
Arkansaw, WI 54721 90%465$75,305$236,900$172 smaller · newer homes
New Richland, MN 56072 90%521$80,417$205,400$142 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Albany, WI 53502 89%306$87,000$252,300$220 Very close on everything we compare
Markesan, WI 53946 89%301$72,450$245,500$175 larger · newer homes
Kenyon, MN 55946 89%503$85,781$261,300$178 pricier homes ($27K more)
Oakley, ID 83346 89%1,548$70,114$268,500$186 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · younger residents
Mayfield, NY 12117 88%478$66,000$208,500$158 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Argyle, NY 12809 88%518$83,938$256,100$238 Very close on everything we compare
Barker, NY 14012 88%268$72,083$172,800$232 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Strykersville, NY 14145 88%264$85,114$194,400$197 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older residents
Darlington, PA 16115 88%180$68,571$185,400$161 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Venus, PA 16364 88%212$74,886$183,500— cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · newer homes
Dornsife, PA 17823 88%361$78,864$232,100— smaller · newer homes
North Jackson, OH 44451 88%152$61,250$241,100$193 Very close on everything we compare
Carson, IA 51525 88%616$82,308$196,700$174 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Rosholt, WI 54473 88%344$80,038$244,600$201 newer homes
Elmwood, WI 54740 88%475$79,387$239,700$231 Very close on everything we compare
Wellington, MO 64097 88%584$74,750$229,800$192 smaller · newer homes
Downey, ID 83234 88%1,456$81,083$229,300$178 smaller · younger residents

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.