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 Lyons, MI 48851

Lyons: median income $65,726, home value $158,000, $137/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crothersville, IN 47229 95%291$62,950$156,400$128 Very close on everything we compare
Forreston, IL 61030 95%244$71,655$157,200$130 Very close on everything we compare
Perrysville, OH 44864 94%208$66,250$160,500$146 newer homes
Waynesfield, OH 45896 94%170$62,449$173,000$145 Very close on everything we compare
Shirley, IN 47384 94%213$74,167$158,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Collins, NY 14034 92%308$62,412$151,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Milroy, PA 17063 92%409$75,444$135,200$113 Very close on everything we compare
Payne, OH 45880 92%130$69,500$124,700$140 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Akron, IN 46910 92%145$69,226$204,200$123 pricier homes ($46K more)
Winslow, IN 47598 92%340$68,601$106,900$114 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Verndale, MN 56481 92%550$73,295$167,700$141 newer homes
Cohocton, NY 14826 91%378$69,464$132,300$136 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Bessemer, PA 16112 91%266$74,821$154,500$114 smaller
Mill Creek, PA 17060 91%401$67,159$153,600$183 smaller
Windfall, IN 46076 91%187$73,889$123,400$123 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
La Crosse, IN 46348 91%151$64,375$168,800$109 smaller
North Judson, IN 46366 91%154$60,182$136,500$145 larger
South Whitley, IN 46787 91%135$62,242$166,600$126 larger
Macy, IN 46951 91%152$55,227$150,300$134 Very close on everything we compare
Hagerstown, IN 47346 91%210$70,000$144,300$114 larger
Cornell, WI 54732 91%345$62,875$184,000$117 pricier homes ($26K more)
Plainfield, WI 54966 91%243$67,143$156,200$162 Very close on everything we compare
Berkshire, NY 13736 90%446$65,880$140,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Colliers, WV 26035 90%289$60,000$158,800$142 newer homes
Valley Grove, WV 26060 90%300$69,716$155,900$141 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.