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 Waldron, MI 49288

Waldron: median income $66,833, home value $147,500, $129/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bloomville, OH 44818 96%91$63,922$141,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Dunkirk, OH 45836 93%78$56,250$119,700$117 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Ohio, IL 61349 93%259$71,375$119,200$126 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Cambridge, IL 61238 92%298$64,583$131,100$106 larger
Collins, NY 14034 91%290$62,412$151,200$134 newer homes
Owaneco, IL 62555 91%294$69,676$131,300— 5 min shorter commute
Point Marion, PA 15474 90%275$62,500$117,700$136 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Shelby, IA 51570 90%568$77,708$204,700$144 pricier homes ($57K more)
Wheatland, IA 52777 90%329$60,250$158,900$168 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, IA 51462 89%520$69,286$146,300— 7 min shorter commute
Mount Savage, MD 21545 88%324$60,264$130,700$111 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
New Washington, OH 44854 88%99$70,357$146,200$134 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Camden, IN 46917 88%133$61,643$143,900$132 older residents
Greens Fork, IN 47345 88%131$73,750$155,600$136 8 min shorter commute
Brook, IN 47922 88%162$61,033$125,500$111 newer homes
Darlington, IN 47940 88%165$70,711$152,100$157 older residents
Oxford, IN 47971 88%168$64,375$152,600$149 5 min shorter commute
Ashton, IL 61006 88%245$75,938$155,500$107 Very close on everything we compare
La Rue, OH 43332 87%98$81,382$146,600$188 Very close on everything we compare
Royal Center, IN 46978 87%123$78,750$130,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Shirley, IN 47384 87%138$74,167$158,300$152 newer homes
Rockford, IA 50468 87%443$73,403$173,700— pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute
North Fairfield, OH 44855 86%105$63,125$159,000$92 younger residents
Ansonia, OH 45303 86%106$65,556$134,100$146 newer homes
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 86%352$61,875$167,500$140 newer homes

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.