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 Rhodes, MI 48652

Rhodes: median income $69,766, home value $171,800, $60/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Flat Rock, IL 62427 92%386$81,250$160,700— older homes
West Sunbury, PA 16061 87%296$74,464$197,400— pricier homes ($26K more)
New Marshfield, OH 45766 87%329$72,518$141,400$78 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Roaring Branch, PA 17765 86%401$88,553$201,000— pricier homes ($29K more)
Blackstock, SC 29014 85%662$62,422$187,300$97 Very close on everything we compare
Pelham, TN 37366 85%596$58,616$188,500— smaller
Jumping Branch, WV 25969 84%462$60,250$182,300— older residents · older homes
Conehatta, MS 39057 84%833$62,349$159,200$66 9 min shorter commute
Greenville, MO 63944 84%569$58,047$136,100$79 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Varysburg, NY 14167 83%306$67,132$150,000— older homes
French Creek, WV 26218 83%400$58,646$143,900— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Marietta, MS 38856 83%685$66,686$135,700$81 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · older residents
Simpson, IL 62985 83%501$74,375$183,800— smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Montegut, LA 70377 83%1,053$60,665$130,600$69 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Dike, TX 75437 83%948$87,574$231,600— pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Milano, TX 76556 83%1,140$52,328$153,800— Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, ME 04969 82%743$61,964$207,100— pricier homes ($35K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Lindley, NY 14858 82%379$81,750$145,200— cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Centerville, PA 16404 82%268$65,972$156,200— larger · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Lerona, WV 25971 82%471$74,439$150,000$91 6 min shorter commute
Plymouth, IL 62367 82%423$58,000$126,700— cheaper homes ($45K less)
Stark City, MO 64866 82%710$59,712$169,100— smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Springfield, AR 72157 82%740$62,931$140,300— cheaper homes ($32K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Dry Branch, GA 31020 81%771$69,720$150,600— older residents
Iron City, TN 38463 81%635$58,059$152,800$118 Very close on everything we compare

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.