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 Harbor Beach, MI 48441

Harbor Beach: median income $50,765, home value $154,000, $140/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stoystown, PA 15563 92%321$62,411$139,600$128 Very close on everything we compare
Lockwood, MO 65682 92%739$53,590$164,300$143 smaller
Beloit, OH 44609 91%221$58,221$193,500$109 pricier homes ($40K more)
Hamilton, TX 76531 91%1,186$49,100$126,300$111 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Stockton, IL 61085 90%384$59,798$131,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, MO 64628 90%603$59,361$123,500$110 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Morrill, NE 69358 90%1,079$52,159$152,800$137 smaller · older residents
Sibley, IA 51249 89%653$61,500$160,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Hurley, WI 54534 89%408$53,468$123,600$121 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, AZ 85539 89%1,672$47,807$137,500$174 Very close on everything we compare
Fredonia, PA 16124 88%212$55,455$171,500— smaller · 6 min longer commute
West Lafayette, OH 43845 88%251$54,177$133,700$145 5 min longer commute
Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 88%211$64,904$167,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Flora, IN 46929 88%299$56,940$186,500$129 pricier homes ($33K more)
Clarinda, IA 51632 88%665$55,055$143,000$130 larger
Chisholm, MN 55719 88%552$53,647$123,100$106 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Ursa, IL 62376 88%516$57,778$178,000$150 smaller
Archer City, TX 76351 88%1,111$46,484$138,900$121 smaller
Kirkwood, NY 13795 87%369$56,743$149,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
Castile, NY 14427 87%247$56,490$134,800$128 smaller
Brockway, PA 15824 87%266$64,623$155,600$144 Very close on everything we compare
Sharpsville, PA 16150 87%210$56,334$148,200$147 larger · more renters
Coudersport, PA 16915 87%279$61,781$181,800$130 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Montpelier, OH 43543 87%183$56,236$136,700$128 larger
Crestline, OH 44827 87%210$56,757$125,900$148 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 7 min longer 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.