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 Decatur, MI 49045

Decatur: median income $57,436, home value $177,300, $136/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beloit, OH 44609 96%274$58,221$193,500$109 Very close on everything we compare
Galveston, IN 46932 96%105$61,579$166,000$128 smaller
Delphi, IN 46923 95%111$63,553$170,600$156 larger
West Alexandria, OH 45381 94%182$62,263$204,900$156 pricier homes ($28K more)
Berlin, PA 15530 93%398$59,205$152,600$122 Very close on everything we compare
Rockwood, PA 15557 93%387$61,042$135,500$142 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Cochranton, PA 16314 93%310$70,389$164,300$141 Very close on everything we compare
Ridgeway, VA 24148 93%503$59,428$152,200$136 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Halifax, VA 24558 93%528$61,019$169,900$133 Very close on everything we compare
New Paris, OH 45347 93%168$63,025$136,700$106 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Centerville, IN 47330 93%167$67,250$175,300$141 Very close on everything we compare
Gillett, WI 54124 93%225$60,703$143,400$174 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Neillsville, WI 54456 93%285$66,934$174,500$130 Very close on everything we compare
Barron, WI 54812 93%369$63,100$161,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Owensville, MO 65066 93%387$56,964$166,600$140 newer homes
Moravia, NY 13118 92%493$67,651$167,900$133 Very close on everything we compare
Holley, NY 14470 92%412$65,938$159,000$152 Very close on everything we compare
Shippenville, PA 16254 92%346$56,563$160,900$138 smaller
Saegertown, PA 16433 92%304$68,542$187,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Grafton, WV 26354 92%368$52,742$136,200$107 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
West Lafayette, OH 43845 92%257$54,177$133,700$145 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Carrollton, OH 44615 92%278$63,793$184,000$168 larger
Oakland City, IN 47660 92%269$57,472$146,300$107 cheaper homes ($31K less)
New London, MO 63459 92%329$67,778$171,300$134 newer homes
Smithfield, PA 15478 91%362$67,449$169,200$188 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.