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 Hartford, MI 49057

Hartford: median income $51,345, home value $118,400, $134/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Trion, GA 30753 93%531$51,204$102,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Coeburn, VA 24230 92%412$48,573$101,600$123 Very close on everything we compare
Belington, WV 26250 92%393$47,682$112,000$122 6 min longer commute
Teague, TX 75860 92%918$59,950$128,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Science Hill, KY 42553 91%358$52,737$154,500$165 pricier homes ($36K more)
Versailles, MO 65084 91%437$55,372$143,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Winnsboro, LA 71295 91%758$48,211$99,700$129 larger
Harrisburg, AR 72432 91%519$55,827$116,100$124 newer homes
Vinita, OK 74301 91%614$52,211$144,100$129 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Salina, OK 74365 91%628$51,067$120,800$139 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Antlers, OK 74523 91%752$47,702$130,100$128 older residents
Stilwell, OK 74960 91%633$47,151$116,000$132 larger
Childress, TX 79201 91%932$58,438$124,600$128 Very close on everything we compare
Eunice, NM 88231 91%1,148$51,417$128,900$122 smaller
Barnwell, SC 29812 90%673$51,870$112,900$135 larger
Henagar, AL 35978 90%525$55,509$137,100$139 6 min longer commute
Hartford, KY 42347 90%329$60,900$134,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
West Lafayette, OH 43845 90%266$54,177$133,700$145 older residents
Bowling Green, MO 63334 90%330$54,638$159,800$151 pricier homes ($41K more)
Sarcoxie, MO 64862 90%552$59,489$125,900$128 smaller · older residents
Oakdale, LA 71463 90%865$43,594$100,700$105 Very close on everything we compare
Pocahontas, AR 72455 90%484$49,764$142,600$119 larger
Valliant, OK 74764 90%744$58,350$136,100$131 smaller
Tecumseh, OK 74873 90%754$55,803$138,700$128 larger
Spiro, OK 74959 90%662$56,089$108,700$138 newer homes

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.