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 Vandalia, MI 49095

Vandalia: median income $83,393, home value $264,300, $171/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fabius, NY 13063 96%509$84,063$230,200$161 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Thompson, OH 44086 96%249$92,143$289,100$187 Very close on everything we compare
Rosholt, WI 54473 96%258$80,038$244,600$201 Very close on everything we compare
Bonfield, IL 60913 96%124$87,750$279,000$156 Very close on everything we compare
Springville, IA 52336 95%286$91,458$225,300$179 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Earlton, NY 12058 94%614$85,469$273,500— smaller
Austinburg, OH 44010 94%258$80,455$223,300$173 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Cascade, WI 53011 94%166$90,833$253,400$193 Very close on everything we compare
Easton, KS 66020 94%515$78,594$320,100— pricier homes ($56K more)
East Nassau, NY 12062 93%634$87,679$249,600$217 Very close on everything we compare
Darien Center, NY 14040 93%388$88,779$210,100$141 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Hookstown, PA 15050 93%297$91,406$209,800$134 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Scenery Hill, PA 15360 93%327$85,341$246,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Wapwallopen, PA 18660 93%510$80,568$206,800$162 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Franklin, WV 26807 93%411$66,750$255,000$191 Very close on everything we compare
Dellroy, OH 44620 93%259$76,827$235,200$184 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Fillmore, IN 46128 93%162$86,466$209,300$200 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Waldron, IN 46182 93%168$89,567$254,300$146 Very close on everything we compare
Coon Valley, WI 54623 93%289$88,864$276,400$181 Very close on everything we compare
Rosendale, WI 54974 93%192$97,222$263,600$172 smaller
Kellogg, MN 55945 93%355$80,284$235,200$176 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Milan, NH 03588 92%761$71,538$253,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Dalmatia, PA 17017 92%475$82,396$216,600$212 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Sweet Valley, PA 18656 92%505$76,804$233,000$162 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Hamilton, IN 46742 92%56$78,750$250,500$199 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.