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 Alto, MI 49302

Alto: median income $134,722, home value $400,700, $216/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ostrander, OH 43061 93%211$157,568$400,300$229 smaller
Pittsboro, IN 46167 93%212$122,723$328,600$169 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 93%310$119,410$359,500$167 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Hinckley, OH 44233 92%218$136,915$443,500$263 pricier homes ($43K more)
Summerfield, NC 27358 91%543$138,717$444,400$205 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Greenville, WI 54942 91%186$119,508$355,900$217 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Greenwood, MO 64034 91%537$120,041$350,900$194 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Hebron, KY 41048 90%262$137,398$329,100$184 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46259 90%220$129,345$342,000$153 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Colgate, WI 53017 90%145$153,917$521,700$221 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
Clancy, MT 59634 90%1,323$129,891$553,900$264 pricier homes ($153K more) · smaller
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 89%312$134,115$339,900$207 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Granville, OH 43023 89%242$142,852$473,100$220 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Leo, IN 46765 89%112$112,328$357,900$172 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Lake View, NY 14085 88%329$129,563$292,900$213 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more walkable
Lewisville, NC 27023 88%536$107,924$369,100$199 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($32K less)
Sharpsburg, GA 30277 88%652$120,379$394,200$196 larger · 6 min longer commute
Peosta, IA 52068 88%275$125,901$361,700$174 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Swisher, IA 52338 88%326$119,605$392,700$170 smaller · older residents
Oronoco, MN 55960 88%365$130,227$481,200$214 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Wichita, KS 67235 88%727$118,050$319,100$156 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · newer homes
New Kent, VA 23124 87%571$132,060$398,600$231 smaller · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Bishop, GA 30621 87%632$117,917$463,600$208 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · more renters
Fortson, GA 31808 87%705$109,294$291,700$164 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less)
Cologne, MN 55322 87%438$124,861$426,200$181 pricier homes ($26K more) · 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.