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 Allendale, MI 49401

Allendale: median income $74,880, home value $321,500, $217/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cheney, WA 99004 83%1,560$67,337$420,500$233 pricier homes ($99K more) · older residents
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 82%484$72,067$364,300$202 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents
Provo, UT 84601 82%1,338$67,207$403,500$249 pricier homes ($82K more) · older homes
Orlando, FL 32826 81%1,029$64,755$254,300$228 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78249 81%1,162$80,565$305,400$169 larger · older residents
Saint Cloud, MN 56301 80%445$73,142$288,600$149 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · older homes
Lincoln, NE 68528 80%576$75,740$253,800$166 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · older residents
Fayetteville, AR 72701 80%648$55,506$355,300$218 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more renters
Logan, UT 84321 80%1,320$69,148$400,500$215 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Millersville, PA 17551 79%536$68,661$287,900$190 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28273 79%604$87,350$340,600$197 larger · older residents
Norman, OK 73072 79%819$78,546$306,500$171 larger · older residents
Logan, UT 84341 79%1,318$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($144K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Jacksonville, FL 32246 78%909$80,963$312,900$222 larger · older residents
Orlando, FL 32817 78%1,028$80,711$362,500$249 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78744 78%1,098$83,002$357,500$212 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Cedar City, UT 84721 78%1,468$67,299$366,600$223 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents
Sioux Falls, SD 57106 77%548$77,580$290,200$188 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76120 77%933$80,922$306,700$180 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Ellensburg, WA 98926 77%1,699$71,137$470,300$264 pricier homes ($149K more) · older residents
Glassboro, NJ 08028 76%604$89,130$312,100$218 older residents · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Lutz, FL 33559 76%1,041$80,185$377,300$234 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · older residents
Stephenville, TX 76401 76%1,000$61,210$270,000$200 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Cedar City, UT 84720 76%1,468$67,670$420,000$209 pricier homes ($99K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Menomonie, WI 54751 75%326$72,028$253,000$168 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents · older 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.