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 Zeeland, MI 49464

Zeeland: median income $98,319, home value $344,400, $203/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norwalk, IA 50211 92%402$103,712$316,100$231 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Green Bay, WI 54313 91%158$107,599$323,300$203 Very close on everything we compare
Helena, MT 59602 91%1,295$92,985$408,600$270 pricier homes ($64K more)
Circle Pines, MN 55014 90%389$103,658$337,400$202 7 min longer commute
Chambersburg, PA 17202 89%478$96,318$278,700$167 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 5 min longer commute
Dubuque, IA 52002 89%241$91,036$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Mosinee, WI 54455 89%228$96,140$251,300$179 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Great Falls, MT 59404 89%1,269$83,867$295,700$199 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Kennewick, WA 99337 89%1,637$98,848$395,500$225 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min longer commute
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 88%639$98,217$313,200$232 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Denver, PA 17517 88%542$99,202$296,700$204 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
La Grange, KY 40031 88%307$98,513$341,000$181 8 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55448 88%397$103,461$315,900$188 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min longer commute
Brandon, SD 57005 88%535$112,500$341,200$189 smaller
Cheyenne, WY 82009 88%969$103,835$450,600$186 pricier homes ($106K more) · older residents
Kansas City, KS 66109 87%523$102,593$273,600$174 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 7 min longer commute
Cicero, NY 13039 86%501$107,500$247,400$207 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · older residents
Forest, VA 24551 86%520$91,067$362,500$187 6 min longer commute
Fletcher, NC 28732 86%543$81,852$376,700$233 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min longer commute
Broussard, LA 70518 86%937$106,710$297,900$154 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lorena, TX 76655 86%1,000$99,917$313,100$186 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Abilene, TX 79602 86%1,037$89,551$248,100$194 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more renters
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 85%638$90,013$370,500$283 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Camden Wyoming, DE 19934 85%601$87,125$336,300$180 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Brunswick, GA 31523 85%839$88,988$310,400$177 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute

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.