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 South Haven, MI 49090

South Haven: median income $68,920, home value $295,000, $293/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaufort, NC 28516 93%740$66,057$315,400$270 newer homes
Eagle River, WI 54521 93%285$74,071$305,100$257 smaller
Minocqua, WI 54548 92%296$69,569$336,400$288 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Valdese, NC 28690 91%524$67,000$211,300$219 cheaper homes ($84K less)
West Jefferson, NC 28694 91%488$58,486$273,200$266 smaller
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 91%178$70,212$297,300$257 7 min shorter commute
Belfast, ME 04915 90%875$66,362$308,700$271 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, IN 46567 90%74$77,103$239,700$338 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents
Clear Lake, IA 50428 90%365$81,037$283,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Llano, TX 78643 90%1,057$68,365$362,600$239 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · newer homes
Lakeside, AZ 85929 90%1,401$62,752$306,900$290 smaller · newer homes
Port Clinton, OH 43452 89%181$67,490$222,000$258 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Chewelah, WA 99109 89%1,572$62,391$327,400$235 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Waynesville, NC 28786 88%508$59,371$297,800$245 larger · younger residents
Lake City, MN 55041 88%333$78,672$275,200$221 smaller
Oakland, MD 21550 87%416$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Columbus, NC 28722 87%540$67,760$307,300$225 smaller · newer homes
Clayton, GA 30525 87%542$65,150$274,200$258 smaller · newer homes
Aitkin, MN 56431 87%460$67,828$295,400$213 Very close on everything we compare
Park Rapids, MN 56470 87%533$67,500$291,100$192 younger residents
Saint Maries, ID 83861 87%1,513$65,508$307,800$237 smaller · younger residents
Akron, NY 14001 86%395$75,107$232,300$199 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Freedom, PA 15042 86%334$75,742$231,700$193 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Hendersonville, NC 28739 86%529$73,582$394,900$273 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 86%530$71,383$341,400$248 pricier homes ($46K more) · 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.