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 Hemlock, MI 48626

Hemlock: median income $84,360, home value $224,100, $127/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Russiaville, IN 46979 94%232$88,832$213,500$153 Very close on everything we compare
Wapwallopen, PA 18660 93%447$80,568$206,800$162 smaller
Fincastle, VA 24090 92%469$90,521$286,900$136 pricier homes ($63K more)
Auburn, PA 17922 91%458$99,260$257,100$163 pricier homes ($33K more)
Somerville, OH 45064 91%267$102,531$240,200$152 smaller
Walkerton, IN 46574 91%177$76,181$188,100$136 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Albion, IN 46701 91%155$78,385$211,600$146 Very close on everything we compare
Winnebago, IL 61088 91%266$98,088$208,700$128 Very close on everything we compare
Sherrard, IL 61281 91%351$102,639$224,000$126 smaller
Argenta, IL 62501 91%337$95,889$172,200$125 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Overbrook, KS 66524 91%670$84,375$173,100$142 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Hookstown, PA 15050 90%277$91,406$209,800$134 smaller
Russell, PA 16345 90%278$95,192$186,400$137 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Churubusco, IN 46723 90%161$84,286$219,300$167 Very close on everything we compare
Worden, IL 62097 90%425$91,011$217,900$132 smaller · younger residents
Pawnee, IL 62558 90%381$81,106$172,900$120 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Darien Center, NY 14040 89%296$88,779$210,100$141 smaller
Blue Ridge, VA 24064 89%476$73,583$271,300$162 pricier homes ($47K more)
Farmersville, OH 45325 89%257$81,250$234,600$141 smaller
Sharpsville, IN 46068 89%231$98,708$189,700$154 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Bovey, MN 55709 89%518$75,652$225,700$168 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 89%382$102,917$212,500$128 smaller
Windsor, NY 13865 88%445$73,623$177,900$138 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Jeromesville, OH 44840 88%208$83,021$235,500$173 smaller · younger residents
Center Point, IA 52213 88%392$98,854$259,800$161 pricier homes ($36K more)

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.