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 Applegate, MI 48401

Applegate: median income $70,536, home value $162,700, $183/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Needmore, PA 17238 93%335$65,189$212,900$165 pricier homes ($50K more)
Robards, KY 42452 93%469$80,069$173,300$183 Very close on everything we compare
Dushore, PA 18614 92%343$68,864$190,000$157 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Farnham, VA 22460 92%494$65,685$198,200$164 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Hughes, AR 72348 92%716$64,464$130,300$182 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Kennerdell, PA 16374 91%207$57,829$128,800$171 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Snow Shoe, PA 16874 91%289$79,375$178,100— younger residents
Turners Station, KY 40075 91%356$64,375$164,000$250 Very close on everything we compare
White Lake, WI 54491 91%327$55,917$168,400$163 Very close on everything we compare
Floodwood, MN 55736 91%557$65,179$164,500$180 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Burlington Flats, NY 13315 90%380$65,921$202,000$198 pricier homes ($39K more)
James Creek, PA 16657 90%309$63,353$214,500$164 pricier homes ($52K more)
Nickelsville, VA 24271 90%457$58,625$161,500$166 larger
Rock Cave, WV 26234 90%339$61,250$206,500— pricier homes ($44K more)
Mathias, WV 26812 90%367$64,375$144,200$158 Very close on everything we compare
Liberty, TN 37095 90%538$64,792$189,200$212 pricier homes ($27K more)
Commiskey, IN 47227 90%348$79,398$178,400$175 Very close on everything we compare
Fruitvale, TX 75127 90%1,026$60,366$216,800$172 pricier homes ($54K more)
Cold Brook, NY 13324 89%384$86,176$179,300$159 Very close on everything we compare
Frenchville, PA 16836 89%274$62,841$131,700$210 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Ararat, VA 24053 89%480$63,646$171,900— larger · 5 min longer commute
Duck, WV 25063 89%343$61,731$136,500$158 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Francisco, IN 47649 89%429$63,060$160,800$129 Very close on everything we compare
Suring, WI 54174 89%305$69,878$187,700$225 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Gays Mills, WI 54631 89%413$65,417$170,900$158 7 min shorter commute

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.