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 Galien, MI 49113

Galien: median income $59,219, home value $171,600, $117/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marion Center, PA 15759 95%395$57,132$168,600$119 Very close on everything we compare
Rivesville, WV 26588 95%368$60,990$173,300$109 larger
Roann, IN 46974 95%67$61,528$179,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Millmont, PA 17845 94%487$66,510$197,200$151 pricier homes ($26K more)
Glasgow, VA 24555 94%472$56,080$185,000$158 Very close on everything we compare
Farmdale, OH 44417 94%303$52,763$197,600$142 pricier homes ($26K more)
North Benton, OH 44449 94%290$62,188$163,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Maysville, OK 73057 94%763$61,044$154,900$114 Very close on everything we compare
Kearny, AZ 85137 94%1,463$57,946$134,000$112 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Mayport, PA 16240 93%380$58,281$142,400$135 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Rayland, OH 43943 93%322$54,784$135,500$125 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 93%246$61,875$167,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Ridgeland, WI 54763 93%356$65,417$160,200$88 smaller
Petrolia, PA 16050 92%353$56,708$132,700$123 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Stoneboro, PA 16153 92%333$63,750$149,300— Very close on everything we compare
Pittsfield, PA 16340 92%365$57,446$127,300$115 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Oldtown, MD 21555 92%441$53,266$197,700$119 pricier homes ($26K more)
Galveston, IN 46932 92%87$61,579$166,000$128 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Avoca, WI 53506 92%214$59,861$171,500$129 smaller
Bruce, WI 54819 92%346$56,650$162,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Balaton, MN 56115 92%502$64,000$193,300$106 smaller
Queen City, MO 63561 92%330$56,563$134,200$132 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Collins, NY 14034 91%392$62,412$151,200$134 younger residents · older homes
Creekside, PA 15732 91%387$62,000$200,200— pricier homes ($29K more)
Sigel, PA 15860 91%387$65,774$148,800— 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.