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 Crystal, MI 48818

Crystal: median income $55,924, home value $191,700, $259/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walling, TN 38587 90%512$51,500$249,600$248 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Jumping Branch, WV 25969 89%440$60,250$182,300— older residents
Moscow, OH 45153 89%306$57,176$226,100— pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Glenfield, NY 13343 88%479$70,478$163,600$236 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Harwood, TX 78632 88%1,168$62,500$187,400$214 smaller · newer homes
Huntland, TN 37345 87%572$58,750$190,100$191 7 min shorter commute
Williamsport, OH 43164 87%268$68,000$190,300$199 more renters
Varysburg, NY 14167 86%334$67,132$150,000— cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents
Bear Creek, NC 27207 86%605$70,211$205,700$200 larger
Elora, TN 37328 86%574$64,550$146,200$189 cheaper homes ($46K less)
South Webster, OH 45682 86%327$56,250$187,700— more renters
Guysville, OH 45735 86%317$51,364$149,300$237 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Dillsboro, IN 47018 86%295$61,085$188,800$167 larger
Big Cabin, OK 74332 86%717$60,781$167,500$212 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Arrington, VA 22922 85%496$60,125$226,000$206 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Paw Paw, WV 25434 85%423$64,487$207,500$254 newer homes
Waterloo, AL 35677 85%598$51,964$206,000$178 newer homes
Pelham, TN 37366 85%551$58,616$188,500— smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Rayville, MO 64084 85%544$65,060$243,300$211 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Lacygne, KS 66040 85%607$56,323$174,300$227 older residents · newer homes
Bellevue, TX 76228 85%978$69,250$171,200$176 smaller
Brownfield, ME 04010 84%701$60,889$287,500$265 pricier homes ($96K more) · newer homes
Porter, ME 04068 84%700$60,417$226,100$201 pricier homes ($34K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Canton, ME 04221 84%731$52,458$165,000$296 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Windsor, ME 04363 84%766$63,178$228,800$247 pricier homes ($37K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes

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.