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.

Reset

Towns most like Richland, MI 49083

Richland: median income $105,496, home value $348,100, $170/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 96%279$119,410$359,500$167 Very close on everything we compare
Lewisville, NC 27023 95%510$107,924$369,100$199 larger
Macedonia, OH 44056 95%216$101,285$308,500$195 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Solon, IA 52333 95%313$118,721$366,900$177 Very close on everything we compare
Hampden, ME 04444 94%844$106,554$293,000$200 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Mountain Top, PA 18707 94%497$109,567$301,200$174 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Gurley, AL 35748 94%532$103,563$356,300$198 Very close on everything we compare
Pfafftown, NC 27040 93%507$92,601$278,000$171 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Cataula, GA 31804 93%674$103,095$323,600$164 newer homes
Waynesville, OH 45068 93%209$96,147$335,600$204 Very close on everything we compare
Roanoke, IN 46783 93%98$101,705$303,700$185 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Topeka, KS 66618 93%581$109,884$254,200$160 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Holden, ME 04429 92%857$97,244$313,600$191 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Greenfield Center, NY 12833 92%591$102,832$345,600$183 smaller
Fairview, PA 16415 92%267$108,214$310,600$200 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Whitehouse, OH 43571 92%103$108,143$296,600$204 cheaper homes ($52K less)
New Palestine, IN 46163 92%185$113,106$347,800$176 larger · 6 min longer commute
Georgetown, IN 47122 92%283$107,500$284,300$164 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Swisher, IA 52338 92%322$119,605$392,700$170 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Columbia, IL 62236 92%370$108,981$306,600$156 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Greenwood, MO 64034 92%523$120,041$350,900$194 Very close on everything we compare
Hawley, MN 56549 91%625$105,968$341,500$170 smaller
Dell Rapids, SD 57022 91%577$100,656$325,200$192 smaller
Rochester, IL 62563 91%282$117,255$262,800$136 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Kearney, MO 64060 91%510$112,683$356,600$186 larger

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.