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 Elkton, MI 48731

Elkton: median income $53,021, home value $115,500, $106/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stinnett, TX 79083 95%1,112$48,611$105,400$117 Very close on everything we compare
Castile, NY 14427 94%271$56,490$134,800$128 Very close on everything we compare
Corydon, IA 50060 93%559$63,438$117,300$106 larger
La Grange, MO 63448 93%502$61,417$117,800$137 Very close on everything we compare
Falls Creek, PA 15840 92%290$57,344$123,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Westbrook, MN 56183 92%609$45,536$138,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Greenup, IL 62428 92%406$53,333$97,900$105 larger
Fairfax, MO 64446 92%670$56,949$101,800— Very close on everything we compare
Carnegie, OK 73015 92%1,015$46,806$97,500$104 larger
Archer City, TX 76351 92%1,091$46,484$138,900$121 Very close on everything we compare
Fieldale, VA 24089 91%521$51,458$97,100$90 larger
Alden, IA 50006 91%522$69,783$121,200$101 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, SD 57062 91%743$62,321$134,900$110 larger
Culbertson, NE 69024 91%939$52,337$106,900— Very close on everything we compare
Sherman, NY 14781 90%215$61,625$145,300$103 pricier homes ($30K more)
Farmersburg, IN 47850 90%387$54,050$104,400$83 5 min longer commute
Audubon, IA 50025 90%612$52,438$118,100$97 larger
Pocahontas, IA 50574 90%583$60,469$110,300$83 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, IL 61085 90%360$59,798$131,300$111 larger
Wenona, IL 61377 90%355$57,321$139,500$86 Very close on everything we compare
Sweet Springs, MO 65351 90%628$55,625$118,000$141 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 90%750$57,361$85,900— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Bethel, NC 27812 89%635$53,268$112,500$139 larger · 6 min longer commute
Rutherford, TN 38369 89%614$50,417$105,300$107 6 min longer commute
Sturgis, KY 42459 89%502$51,563$96,600$105 larger

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.