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 Potterville, MI 48876

Potterville: median income $74,594, home value $186,900, $137/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jourdanton, TX 78026 95%1,221$78,501$172,800$137 larger
Philadelphia, NY 13673 94%465$81,167$185,900$161 smaller
Black River, NY 13612 91%459$85,658$203,700$146 smaller · older homes
Warrenville, SC 29851 91%650$70,953$164,000$148 larger
Coolidge, GA 31738 91%807$69,950$176,900$166 smaller
Dry Prong, LA 71423 91%876$71,729$166,400$130 more homeowners
Ingleside, TX 78362 91%1,237$71,058$191,200$164 larger
Cascade, IA 52033 90%321$69,023$214,100$127 pricier homes ($27K more)
West Liberty, IA 52776 90%343$79,665$204,000$126 Very close on everything we compare
Cass Lake, MN 56633 90%581$67,981$166,400$105 more single-family homes
Knob Noster, MO 65336 90%534$66,935$217,900$153 pricier homes ($31K more)
Schriever, LA 70395 90%955$78,488$196,800$131 more homeowners
Forest Hill, LA 71430 90%910$63,636$180,300$130 smaller
Lavaca, AR 72941 90%714$73,558$169,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Lone Grove, OK 73443 90%894$58,906$184,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Beasley, TX 77417 90%1,103$75,405$184,300$151 6 min longer commute
Locke, NY 13092 89%423$78,056$192,700$148 smaller
Adams, NY 13605 89%444$70,045$191,100$136 older homes
La Fargeville, NY 13656 89%453$72,500$154,600$133 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more homeowners
Theresa, NY 13691 89%461$79,943$173,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Princess Anne, MD 21853 89%565$69,697$208,300$187 larger
Delmar, MD 21875 89%562$83,665$234,500$166 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Richland, MS 39218 89%778$65,327$128,900$158 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Tolono, IL 61880 89%259$85,536$227,900$147 pricier homes ($41K more)
Monroe City, MO 63456 89%418$64,160$161,200$116 cheaper homes ($26K less)

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.