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 Fairview, MI 48621

Fairview: median income $51,304, home value $145,300, $134/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hartland, ME 04943 95%714$46,141$139,200$113 Very close on everything we compare
Monterey, IN 46960 95%277$45,625$151,000$117 Very close on everything we compare
Addison, ME 04606 94%802$50,524$163,500$191 Very close on everything we compare
Howland, ME 04448 93%752$54,750$152,000$148 Very close on everything we compare
Lunenburg, VT 05906 93%608$51,106$168,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Orbisonia, PA 17243 92%440$42,381$155,400$152 Very close on everything we compare
Troutdale, VA 24378 92%559$49,157$110,500$133 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Prentice, WI 54556 92%309$54,375$144,800$147 younger residents
Patten, ME 04765 91%761$50,286$121,400$179 Very close on everything we compare
Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935 91%503$57,542$119,000$132 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Pembine, WI 54156 91%200$49,625$129,300$172 5 min shorter commute
White Lake, WI 54491 91%232$55,917$168,400$163 5 min longer commute
Hill City, MN 55748 91%485$53,810$201,300$156 pricier homes ($56K more)
Wayne City, IL 62895 91%500$51,131$117,800— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Gerald, MO 63037 91%577$50,203$177,500$151 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Perry, MO 63462 91%535$51,205$156,700$170 younger residents
Hadley, PA 16130 90%298$58,750$153,900$121 larger
Cooperstown, PA 16317 90%306$57,768$115,000$138 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Tionesta, PA 16353 90%324$56,034$121,000$104 larger
Kennerdell, PA 16374 90%322$57,829$128,800$171 Very close on everything we compare
La Center, KY 42056 90%587$56,776$131,300$91 Very close on everything we compare
Merrillan, WI 54754 90%333$58,125$170,200$208 Very close on everything we compare
Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 90%714$46,449$130,100$97 larger
Avinger, TX 75630 90%995$49,677$156,300$166 larger
Brockport, PA 15823 89%359$51,125$146,100— 7 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.