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 Gaines, MI 48436

Gaines: median income $94,487, home value $276,000, $131/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kouts, IN 46347 94%194$95,348$255,400$173 Very close on everything we compare
Milo, IA 50166 94%502$107,279$252,900$135 smaller
Wanatah, IN 46390 93%185$87,639$228,000$130 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
California, KY 41007 92%276$100,924$314,200$147 pricier homes ($38K more)
Bainbridge, IN 46105 92%264$87,736$248,500$142 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Delta, PA 17314 91%447$96,047$269,300$187 larger
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 91%203$78,824$222,900$128 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Lawson, MO 64062 91%586$92,277$274,400$163 larger
Felton, PA 17322 90%433$103,152$261,600$185 larger
Mount Sterling, OH 43143 90%221$100,333$242,800$179 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Grant Park, IL 60940 90%224$97,361$271,900$163 Very close on everything we compare
Davis, IL 61019 90%282$105,150$232,100$114 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Marthasville, MO 63357 90%479$92,200$292,600$141 larger · newer homes
Clayton, IN 46118 89%260$78,298$276,900$166 Very close on everything we compare
New Virginia, IA 50210 89%517$87,813$324,600$108 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Black Creek, WI 54106 89%253$97,500$277,800$199 Very close on everything we compare
Pierz, MN 56364 89%547$76,638$263,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Bunker Hill, IL 62014 89%413$93,233$204,400$128 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Mc Louth, KS 66054 89%643$98,214$243,500$185 cheaper homes ($33K less)
York Springs, PA 17372 88%403$82,313$282,700$158 older residents
Clear Spring, MD 21722 88%382$88,232$312,500$195 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Diamond, OH 44412 88%191$102,726$282,300$168 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Kingston, IL 60145 88%254$108,477$268,300$191 smaller
Dittmer, MO 63023 88%476$79,583$212,800$154 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Bloomsdale, MO 63627 88%474$88,071$266,700$160 Very close on everything we compare

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.