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 Rives Junction, MI 49277

Rives Junction: median income $91,912, home value $217,500, $185/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641 97%602$96,208$237,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Lanesville, IN 47136 94%297$91,333$260,600$155 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Aspers, PA 17304 93%411$84,885$248,000$216 pricier homes ($31K more)
Climax, NC 27233 93%513$83,819$269,200$188 pricier homes ($52K more)
Morris, AL 35116 93%611$88,274$237,000$157 larger
Sugar Valley, GA 30746 92%542$81,696$238,000$175 smaller
Stoutsville, OH 43154 92%210$91,250$250,700$228 pricier homes ($33K more)
Millbury, OH 43447 92%78$89,643$218,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Dresser, WI 54009 92%452$89,861$249,300$198 pricier homes ($32K more)
Mazon, IL 60444 92%219$87,614$219,000$188 smaller
Agency, MO 64401 92%566$99,398$271,900— pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Henley, MO 65040 92%499$89,167$225,800$190 smaller
Chico, TX 76431 92%958$86,875$194,700$198 larger
Pinebluff, NC 28373 91%571$81,538$224,400$199 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Olive, AL 35117 91%616$92,730$226,600$179 larger
Chancellor, AL 36316 91%778$77,016$207,800$148 Very close on everything we compare
Philpot, KY 42366 91%348$87,672$229,700$148 larger
Minford, OH 45653 91%257$82,125$176,100— cheaper homes ($41K less)
Waterloo, IN 46793 91%72$79,949$184,100$168 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Lexington, IN 47138 91%265$86,335$201,800$151 larger
Greenleaf, WI 54126 91%222$99,310$283,900$198 pricier homes ($66K more)
Highlandville, MO 65669 91%600$86,932$243,800$162 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Benton, KS 67017 91%739$88,750$259,400$150 pricier homes ($42K more)
York Haven, PA 17370 90%429$89,895$250,400$186 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Lost Creek, WV 26385 90%308$82,625$165,800$192 cheaper homes ($52K 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.