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 Bay Port, MI 48720

Bay Port: median income $60,250, home value $139,100, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atkinson, IL 61235 96%378$61,932$132,800$67 Very close on everything we compare
Morning Sun, IA 52640 94%445$67,813$125,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Oxford, IN 47971 93%304$64,375$152,600$149 larger
Carrolltown, PA 15722 92%327$68,068$124,300$84 larger
Holgate, OH 43527 92%183$58,821$136,300$120 larger
Fairfax, MN 55332 92%565$62,361$144,300$92 larger
Gibbon, MN 55335 92%556$62,206$149,300$98 larger
Fredonia, PA 16124 91%234$55,455$171,500— pricier homes ($32K more)
Valley View, PA 17983 91%412$72,411$158,700$101 Very close on everything we compare
Ursa, IL 62376 91%487$57,778$178,000$150 pricier homes ($39K more)
Waverly, IL 62692 91%449$66,143$123,100$85 larger
Bayard, NE 69334 91%1,019$62,232$126,100$133 larger
Garrett, PA 15542 90%352$58,393$105,800$117 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Denver, IN 46926 90%248$68,218$152,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
Roann, IN 46974 90%239$61,528$179,600$139 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Anita, IA 50020 90%603$75,417$154,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Ackley, IA 50601 90%497$66,250$127,200$86 larger
Hamburg, IA 51640 90%665$65,385$122,900$130 Very close on everything we compare
Selby, SD 57472 90%827$61,708$120,200$68 Very close on everything we compare
Shannon, IL 61078 90%343$75,769$133,100$89 Very close on everything we compare
Tampico, IL 61283 90%360$64,063$122,300$103 older residents
Wyanet, IL 61379 90%359$63,750$103,200$134 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Alpha, IL 61413 90%402$73,125$120,100$104 Very close on everything we compare
Atwood, IL 61913 90%383$65,500$128,700$73 Very close on everything we compare
Oregon, MO 64473 90%661$63,313$135,900$68 more renters

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.