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 Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Benton Harbor: median income $39,499, home value $159,600, $149/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenwood, SC 29646 92%595$44,441$142,400$145 newer homes
Jackson, TN 38301 91%467$43,227$132,900$128 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Muskogee, OK 74401 91%658$42,294$149,300$110 smaller
Roswell, NM 88203 91%1,155$42,207$126,600$117 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Moberly, MO 65270 90%365$48,351$159,300$144 smaller
San Angelo, TX 76903 90%1,066$49,498$125,700$149 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Brunswick, GA 31520 89%803$40,071$147,500$155 more renters
Decatur, AL 35601 89%520$51,429$172,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, VA 24541 88%534$51,427$145,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
Winston-Salem, NC 27105 88%529$44,080$168,400$155 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Forest City, NC 28043 88%529$42,276$175,400$153 newer homes
Gadsden, AL 35901 88%558$48,876$166,200$127 smaller
Lima, OH 45801 88%152$51,731$123,900$132 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Richmond, IN 47374 88%176$50,766$130,700$124 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Evansville, IN 47710 88%290$47,292$147,300$125 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 88%750$46,810$123,000$136 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Danville, VA 24540 87%533$47,924$159,200$129 older residents
Springfield, MO 65803 87%495$50,572$173,500$149 newer homes
Coshocton, OH 43812 86%269$52,904$151,700$139 smaller
Steubenville, OH 43952 86%324$47,624$124,300$131 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Lorain, OH 44052 86%224$45,023$116,000$122 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min longer commute
Akron, OH 44320 86%261$41,241$104,700$109 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Bristol, VA 24201 85%442$48,764$176,500$135 smaller
South Boston, VA 24592 85%548$51,547$168,900$138 smaller
Waycross, GA 31501 85%785$37,314$113,600$106 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller

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.