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 Three Oaks, MI 49128

Three Oaks: median income $67,398, home value $258,300, $192/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenwood, MN 56334 96%511$69,525$279,900$191 larger
Henning, MN 56551 94%535$63,750$238,200$167 Very close on everything we compare
North Webster, IN 46555 93%57$70,399$203,400$188 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Markesan, WI 53946 93%179$72,450$245,500$175 5 min longer commute
Stoddard, WI 54658 93%266$73,438$249,800$216 Very close on everything we compare
Shell Lake, WI 54871 93%381$69,342$241,000$163 newer homes
Lisbon, NH 03585 92%761$68,594$233,700$250 Very close on everything we compare
Dauphin, PA 17018 92%514$72,188$238,700$170 Very close on everything we compare
Cogan Station, PA 17728 92%494$77,165$235,500$172 newer homes
Vienna, OH 44473 92%311$72,978$179,200$164 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Darien, WI 53114 92%122$72,708$241,000$159 smaller
Cumberland, WI 54829 92%373$66,538$245,800$217 larger · newer homes
Raymond, WA 98577 92%1,848$63,780$276,500$200 larger
Chester, VT 05143 91%720$70,610$255,200$230 5 min longer commute
West Rutland, VT 05777 91%699$64,044$214,700$173 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Windham, CT 06280 91%745$76,577$250,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Willsboro, NY 12996 91%689$69,766$237,900$207 smaller · older residents
Centre Hall, PA 16828 91%469$76,468$273,800$192 newer homes
Millville, PA 17846 91%524$66,591$224,700$143 cheaper homes ($34K less)
State Road, NC 28676 91%488$60,833$242,600$191 newer homes
Amherst, WI 54406 91%225$77,533$284,800$186 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Fountain City, WI 54629 91%302$74,432$229,900$143 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Hermann, MO 65041 91%341$70,368$249,200$179 larger
Lutcher, LA 70071 91%844$60,569$222,100$166 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Idalou, TX 79329 91%996$67,059$220,200$208 cheaper homes ($38K less)

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.