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 Jenison, MI 49428

Jenison: median income $100,225, home value $307,500, $226/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hilton, NY 14468 93%406$98,693$230,000$218 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23236 91%574$110,499$346,900$211 pricier homes ($39K more)
Uniontown, OH 44685 91%263$102,773$273,000$185 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Circle Pines, MN 55014 91%395$103,658$337,400$202 pricier homes ($30K more)
Ledyard, CT 06339 90%715$106,403$330,500$243 smaller
Vineland, NJ 08361 90%612$99,050$285,900$207 smaller · older residents
Green Bay, WI 54313 90%160$107,599$323,300$203 newer homes
Fenton, MO 63026 90%390$97,553$294,400$189 larger
Windsor, CT 06095 89%675$105,322$305,500$221 older residents · more walkable
Cicero, NY 13039 89%491$107,500$247,400$207 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
Spencerport, NY 14559 89%405$94,794$238,700$195 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · older residents
Wadsworth, OH 44281 89%247$89,131$278,800$186 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more renters
Minneapolis, MN 55448 89%403$103,461$315,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Blair, NE 68008 89%537$89,583$270,800$157 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Hampden, ME 04444 88%853$106,554$293,000$200 smaller
Denver, PA 17517 88%535$99,202$296,700$204 smaller
Ft Mitchell, KY 41017 88%276$97,274$293,500$201 more walkable
Canton, OH 44721 88%270$98,210$239,600$179 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45233 88%269$110,742$301,100$168 smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45244 88%273$109,287$382,100$201 pricier homes ($75K more)
Great Falls, MT 59404 88%1,276$83,867$295,700$199 Very close on everything we compare
West Chicago, IL 60185 88%140$107,194$344,300$228 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min longer commute
Bonner Springs, KS 66012 88%543$97,873$276,500$191 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Kansas City, KS 66109 88%534$102,593$273,600$174 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Grand Island, NY 14072 87%347$115,991$327,000$211 older residents

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.