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 Imlay City, MI 48444

Imlay City: median income $71,436, home value $238,900, $145/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockdale, TX 76567 94%1,148$69,983$218,700$144 Very close on everything we compare
Buchanan, GA 30113 93%646$72,417$197,700$184 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Columbiana, AL 35051 93%708$80,061$250,000$151 Very close on everything we compare
Brighton, TN 38011 93%632$70,150$214,000$160 Very close on everything we compare
Brandenburg, KY 40108 93%385$77,559$221,800$158 Very close on everything we compare
Brookville, IN 47012 93%270$84,958$257,800$160 Very close on everything we compare
Pollock, LA 71467 93%947$70,583$191,400$158 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Bowie, TX 76230 93%1,032$66,641$220,600$145 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, AL 35049 92%654$65,644$190,600$163 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Centerville, TN 37033 92%554$68,284$217,200$207 Very close on everything we compare
Lucasville, OH 45648 92%287$72,126$174,100$139 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Warsaw, VA 22572 91%482$67,542$238,400$186 Very close on everything we compare
Umatilla, FL 32784 91%978$72,201$272,800$192 pricier homes ($34K more)
Bloomfield, IN 47424 91%341$72,558$164,200$147 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Braham, MN 55006 91%533$69,191$223,200$169 smaller
Milaca, MN 56353 91%555$78,763$263,200$187 Very close on everything we compare
Bonne Terre, MO 63628 91%529$63,602$189,100$144 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Canton, TX 75103 91%1,008$71,013$241,500$167 larger
Mercersburg, PA 17236 90%348$79,271$239,600$151 Very close on everything we compare
Walnut Cove, NC 27052 90%490$59,024$186,700$165 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Rogersville, AL 35652 90%610$66,798$210,200$162 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Carthage, TN 37030 90%492$61,800$252,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Rising Sun, IN 47040 90%298$75,014$199,100$118 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Bourbon, MO 65441 90%544$65,050$204,200$150 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Ferris, TX 75125 90%1,036$79,545$231,800$167 newer homes

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.