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 Ionia, MI 48846

Ionia: median income $66,742, home value $172,700, $146/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington Court House, OH 43160 94%253$61,740$170,200$149 Very close on everything we compare
Norwalk, OH 44857 93%175$64,297$175,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral Wells, TX 76067 93%998$62,190$172,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Pulaski, VA 24301 91%468$57,718$173,300$147 smaller
Bellefontaine, OH 43311 91%194$67,914$207,600$171 pricier homes ($35K more)
Springfield, OH 45503 91%220$59,595$168,200$154 larger
Shelbyville, IN 46176 91%243$65,182$194,400$137 Very close on everything we compare
Bluffton, IN 46714 91%155$66,441$185,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, IA 50208 91%417$62,306$168,900$169 Very close on everything we compare
Kankakee, IL 60901 91%193$58,309$151,200$135 larger
Orange, TX 77630 91%1,016$64,373$174,800$139 newer homes
Fairdale, KY 40118 90%339$59,316$156,800$166 smaller
Alliance, OH 44601 90%248$61,965$154,600$140 larger
Shelby, OH 44875 90%191$61,276$161,500$139 smaller · more single-family homes
Chillicothe, OH 45601 90%274$59,748$173,100$161 larger
Rushville, IN 46173 90%233$67,456$162,000$125 smaller
Kendallville, IN 46755 90%107$66,717$164,100$152 newer homes
Rochelle, IL 61068 90%217$73,214$171,300$148 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61109 90%209$62,973$139,400$130 cheaper homes ($33K less) · newer homes
Temple, TX 76501 90%1,062$62,532$172,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, NY 14513 89%403$65,309$150,300$121 smaller
Tyrone, PA 16686 89%386$69,008$173,000$115 smaller
Cambridge, OH 43725 89%273$57,835$164,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Ravenna, OH 44266 89%234$64,918$172,300$162 larger · newer homes
Piqua, OH 45356 89%201$69,188$156,400$134 Very close on everything we compare

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.