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 Grand Rapids, MI 49534

Grand Rapids: median income $81,657, home value $306,700, $207/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23703 96%652$78,707$295,900$200 Very close on everything we compare
Green Bay, WI 54311 96%149$84,914$300,600$207 larger
Indianola, IA 50125 95%418$84,848$258,900$219 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Mandan, ND 58554 95%785$80,120$277,900$165 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Bourbonnais, IL 60914 95%168$86,223$255,300$175 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64063 95%530$80,459$263,000$174 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Christiansburg, VA 24073 94%494$76,800$253,200$190 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Lynn Haven, FL 32444 94%883$83,160$331,000$199 Very close on everything we compare
Altoona, IA 50009 94%405$88,447$278,300$237 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Kenosha, WI 53142 94%112$88,960$268,100$202 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Onalaska, WI 54650 94%281$85,548$291,600$189 Very close on everything we compare
Bismarck, ND 58504 94%773$85,637$295,700$180 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68164 94%543$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Brenham, TX 77833 94%1,064$73,388$280,500$172 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Hanahan, SC 29410 93%764$87,984$374,800$250 pricier homes ($68K more)
Cleveland, TN 37312 93%542$78,261$301,000$195 larger
Louisville, KY 40291 93%338$81,267$276,900$170 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Appleton, WI 54915 93%155$87,426$269,700$187 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 93%452$76,138$272,400$161 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Billings, MT 59105 93%1,140$78,014$349,300$196 pricier homes ($43K more)
Blue Springs, MO 64014 93%522$90,337$251,400$182 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Hewitt, TX 76643 93%1,015$83,511$273,300$176 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Corpus Christi, TX 78418 93%1,244$92,445$302,500$215 older residents
Palmyra, PA 17078 92%509$93,135$305,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 92%669$93,838$336,900$234 pricier homes ($30K more)

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.