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 Grandville, MI 49418

Grandville: median income $84,846, home value $321,700, $212/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 95%665$93,838$336,900$234 Very close on everything we compare
West Des Moines, IA 50265 94%418$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Onalaska, WI 54650 94%283$85,548$291,600$189 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55443 94%407$95,082$370,800$179 pricier homes ($49K more)
Duluth, MN 55811 94%415$79,804$321,000$228 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68164 94%541$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Altoona, IA 50009 93%403$88,447$278,300$237 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Waukesha, WI 53188 92%127$92,409$348,600$237 pricier homes ($27K more)
Kansas City, MO 64151 92%527$92,876$323,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 92%1,028$87,685$442,200$208 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger
Christiansburg, VA 24073 91%488$76,800$253,200$190 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43230 91%248$91,424$306,500$206 larger
Urbandale, IA 50322 91%416$92,085$276,200$202 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Tucson, AZ 85745 91%1,558$71,348$342,700$244 Very close on everything we compare
Liverpool, NY 13090 90%482$88,492$213,100$195 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 90%660$92,468$355,800$230 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Lynn Haven, FL 32444 90%875$83,160$331,000$199 5 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40299 90%326$89,440$290,200$176 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55128 90%386$93,210$312,800$194 Very close on everything we compare
Lees Summit, MO 64063 90%526$80,459$263,000$174 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Ogden, UT 84405 90%1,345$84,106$425,100$203 pricier homes ($103K more)
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 89%490$99,077$284,500$199 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Wilmington, NC 28405 89%732$70,274$368,500$257 pricier homes ($47K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32225 89%898$90,559$355,300$223 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Chattanooga, TN 37421 89%545$82,517$333,700$197 larger

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.