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 Fostoria, MI 48435

Fostoria: median income $86,905, home value $143,200, $128/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bremen, KY 42325 91%457$78,750$133,600$180 Very close on everything we compare
Clarksburg, OH 43115 89%261$94,265$156,700$121 Very close on everything we compare
Lewisville, OH 43754 87%266$75,568$149,000$146 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Paragon, IN 46166 86%314$86,042$157,500$144 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Foster, KY 41043 85%314$87,695$211,800$160 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Williams, IN 47470 85%353$90,750$189,100$145 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · newer homes
Chunchula, AL 36521 84%887$76,688$183,500$148 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kimbolton, OH 43749 83%234$65,565$159,200$137 7 min shorter commute
Dittmer, MO 63023 83%513$79,583$212,800$154 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Long Branch, TX 75669 83%985$88,190$133,600$201 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Jamesport, MO 64648 82%583$74,821$107,900$145 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · more renters
Lovelady, TX 75851 82%1,075$85,982$164,400$127 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Elora, TN 37328 81%591$64,550$146,200$189 Very close on everything we compare
Battletown, KY 40104 80%392$71,111$150,000$145 smaller · newer homes
Prospect, OH 43342 80%193$84,803$176,100$196 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Fairview, WV 26570 79%300$71,048$155,800$158 older residents
Jerusalem, OH 43747 79%264$77,115$218,800$87 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Sheldon, WI 54766 79%399$66,050$150,500$103 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Braceville, IL 60407 79%287$89,792$191,000$126 pricier homes ($48K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Flat Rock, IL 62427 79%375$81,250$160,700— older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Bellevue, TX 76228 79%1,040$69,250$171,200$176 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · more renters
West Farmington, OH 44491 78%181$67,589$239,900$148 pricier homes ($97K more)
Patriot, OH 45658 78%314$64,162$116,600— cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min longer commute
Grasston, MN 55030 78%510$81,563$195,800$209 pricier homes ($53K more)
Elkland, MO 65644 78%647$71,527$249,100$148 pricier homes ($106K more) · 5 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.