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 Melvin, MI 48454

Melvin: median income $62,639, home value $188,500, $75/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pelham, TN 37366 96%568$58,616$188,500— Very close on everything we compare
Blackstock, SC 29014 92%602$62,422$187,300$97 newer homes
Mulga, AL 35118 92%705$64,375$164,800$76 larger
Plymouth, ME 04969 91%685$61,964$207,100— 6 min shorter commute
Lore City, OH 43755 91%229$68,581$166,700$89 Very close on everything we compare
Centerville, PA 16404 90%186$65,972$156,200— cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Beavertown, PA 17813 90%336$64,792$189,300$97 larger
Rosebud, MO 63091 90%557$80,000$215,700$78 pricier homes ($27K more)
Lake Hamilton, FL 33851 89%1,049$62,284$236,400— pricier homes ($48K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Jerusalem, OH 43747 89%248$77,115$218,800$87 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min longer commute
Glenmont, OH 44628 89%188$61,518$183,200$70 older residents
Sheldon, WI 54766 89%425$66,050$150,500$103 cheaper homes ($38K less)
New Boston, IL 61272 89%439$64,167$145,900$110 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Murrayville, IL 62668 89%458$70,577$139,800$109 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Greenville, MO 63944 89%581$58,047$136,100$79 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Casar, NC 28020 88%534$59,978$188,700$115 larger
Middletown, MO 63359 88%526$75,227$160,200— cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Stark City, MO 64866 88%740$59,712$169,100— newer homes
Bland, MO 65014 88%570$61,938$155,800$82 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Varysburg, NY 14167 87%231$67,132$150,000— cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Home, PA 15747 87%252$54,938$192,900$108 6 min shorter commute
West Sunbury, PA 16061 87%214$74,464$197,400— larger
Atlantic, PA 16111 87%174$70,074$162,300— cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Liberty, PA 16930 87%313$71,111$197,800— Very close on everything we compare
Sandyville, WV 25275 87%302$64,632$164,600— larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.