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 Greenbush, MI 48738

Greenbush: median income $63,462, home value $193,900, $231/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cook, MN 55723 92%503$64,526$189,700$307 larger
Keosauqua, IA 52565 90%512$62,992$149,000$202 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min longer commute
Machiasport, ME 04655 89%782$60,000$177,100$265 younger residents
Terry, MT 59349 89%1,072$63,000$158,100— cheaper homes ($36K less)
Phelps, WI 54554 88%299$63,750$247,300$289 pricier homes ($53K more) · newer homes
Florence, WI 54121 86%256$58,750$189,600$194 larger · younger residents
Butternut, WI 54514 86%362$70,769$165,000$216 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Centertown, MO 65023 86%621$72,663$221,200$193 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Genesee, PA 16923 85%328$73,864$173,900— younger residents
Cassville, WI 53806 85%402$64,076$164,600$199 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Akeley, MN 56433 85%574$58,889$228,500$185 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Loyalton, CA 96118 85%1,905$54,167$243,800$229 pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents
Goshen, NH 03752 84%564$70,417$255,600$332 pricier homes ($62K more) · younger residents
Rudolph, WI 54475 84%319$79,500$196,700$186 5 min longer commute
Conover, WI 54519 84%305$59,628$271,600$271 pricier homes ($78K more)
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 84%317$62,841$282,200$246 pricier homes ($88K more)
Council, ID 83612 84%1,617$54,810$309,600$257 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger
Monterey, VA 24465 83%466$61,379$202,500$357 younger residents
State Road, NC 28676 83%581$60,833$242,600$191 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · younger residents
Mason, WI 54856 83%400$76,500$193,800$221 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Lampe, MO 65681 83%764$57,548$214,800$228 larger · newer homes
Lubec, ME 04652 82%799$52,083$187,800$221 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Vermontville, NY 12989 82%457$84,464$228,400$199 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min longer commute
Delhi, IA 52223 82%427$89,250$204,000$242 higher income ($26K more)
Hendricks, MN 56136 82%644$68,281$225,600$133 pricier homes ($32K 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.