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 Highland, MI 48357

Highland: median income $94,954, home value $360,700, $203/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stewartstown, PA 17363 93%417$107,386$320,100$203 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Cochranville, PA 19330 93%444$109,779$387,100$223 pricier homes ($26K more)
Boonsboro, MD 21713 93%376$96,199$369,200$207 Very close on everything we compare
Taneytown, MD 21787 93%395$91,682$355,000$208 Very close on everything we compare
Thurmont, MD 21788 93%387$98,856$379,200$208 Very close on everything we compare
Rising Sun, MD 21911 93%445$104,673$359,000$220 Very close on everything we compare
Appling, GA 30802 93%628$85,625$322,000$215 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Hebron, IN 46341 93%206$89,559$269,300$189 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Kewaskum, WI 53040 93%237$96,096$326,100$210 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Poynette, WI 53955 93%296$101,134$332,000$201 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Wyoming, MN 55092 93%499$95,337$363,900$206 Very close on everything we compare
Castroville, TX 78009 93%1,249$103,125$368,700$194 newer homes
Berwick, ME 03901 92%647$94,771$369,100$261 Very close on everything we compare
Nottingham, PA 19362 92%443$89,302$359,700$196 5 min shorter commute
Hampstead, MD 21074 92%410$108,536$378,100$217 larger
Port Deposit, MD 21904 92%446$88,136$333,500$236 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Scottsville, VA 24590 92%432$105,911$293,200$209 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Kearneysville, WV 25430 92%375$86,806$299,900$187 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 5 min longer commute
Gilbert, SC 29054 92%613$91,099$283,500$177 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Slinger, WI 53086 92%239$103,426$387,100$214 pricier homes ($26K more)
Columbus, MT 59019 92%1,281$84,591$398,100$179 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Monson, MA 01057 91%578$98,508$345,300$239 older homes
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 91%407$97,896$303,200$175 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
New Tripoli, PA 18066 91%430$109,115$328,400$191 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Shohola, PA 18458 91%455$96,635$301,700$174 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 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.