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.

Reset

Towns most like Owendale, MI 48754

Owendale: median income $77,500, home value $116,900, $191/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morning Sun, IA 52640 93%448$67,813$125,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
New Riegel, OH 44853 91%184$90,281$156,100— pricier homes ($39K more)
Mclean, TX 79057 91%1,093$70,865$91,300— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Cygnet, OH 43413 89%173$80,069$139,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Nevada, OH 44849 89%200$69,902$145,700$166 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Andrews, IN 46702 89%232$77,727$158,300$143 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Kewanna, IN 46939 89%248$69,000$140,700— larger
Richland, IN 47634 89%452$70,781$137,600$147 larger
Nebo, IL 62355 89%490$65,750$108,700— 6 min longer commute
Waverly, KS 66871 89%742$71,094$145,100— pricier homes ($28K more)
Clarkson, NE 68629 89%717$78,438$132,800— younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Rankin, TX 79778 89%1,335$70,808$123,500— 6 min longer commute
Cherry Creek, NY 14723 88%229$68,261$141,500$179 newer homes
Denver, IN 46926 88%245$68,218$152,500$146 pricier homes ($36K more)
Wyanet, IL 61379 88%361$63,750$103,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Eaton, IN 47338 87%258$68,239$111,100$151 larger
Darlington, IN 47940 87%308$70,711$152,100$157 pricier homes ($35K more)
Sidney, IA 51652 87%666$82,200$134,800$165 larger
Gilman, IL 60938 87%318$73,244$136,000$145 larger
Dakota, IL 61018 87%331$76,471$157,800— pricier homes ($41K more)
Fletcher, OH 45326 86%251$93,472$154,400$177 pricier homes ($38K more)
Oxford, IN 47971 86%302$64,375$152,600$149 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Garwin, IA 50632 86%492$71,667$132,700$123 older residents
Howard, SD 57349 86%713$75,179$153,000$130 pricier homes ($36K more)
Cohocton, NY 14826 85%301$69,464$132,300$136 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.