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 49544

Grand Rapids: median income $74,390, home value $264,000, $218/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Des Moines, IA 50321 94%418$80,351$320,500$212 pricier homes ($57K more)
White River Junction, VT 05001 91%671$78,092$296,900$271 pricier homes ($33K more)
Absecon, NJ 08201 91%633$71,321$287,000$226 Very close on everything we compare
Groveport, OH 43125 91%263$84,043$246,500$187 larger
Kimberly, WI 54136 91%157$69,495$220,700$183 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Columbus, OH 43231 90%248$73,986$237,000$197 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Port Washington, WI 53074 90%112$79,423$296,600$233 pricier homes ($33K more)
Casper, WY 82609 90%1,037$71,010$293,900$169 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Mauldin, SC 29662 89%597$81,749$239,300$170 larger
Chattanooga, TN 37416 89%548$70,705$253,100$193 more single-family homes
Altoona, WI 54720 89%310$85,977$236,700$177 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Thousand Palms, CA 92276 89%1,765$77,000$268,700$286 Very close on everything we compare
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 88%610$82,057$231,300$229 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Enola, PA 17025 88%490$91,285$245,400$175 larger
Reading, PA 19607 88%536$81,346$228,800$183 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older homes
Bridgeton, MO 63044 88%383$77,819$238,100$165 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Metairie, LA 70006 88%931$76,505$344,800$167 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Saint Albans, VT 05478 87%641$71,203$316,400$224 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 87%477$66,423$280,700$196 larger
Panama City, FL 32405 87%885$73,373$279,900$196 larger
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 87%871$65,342$321,200$251 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Kenosha, WI 53144 87%112$76,507$259,600$214 larger
Baraboo, WI 53913 87%205$74,629$234,900$177 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Appleton, WI 54914 87%161$79,875$237,400$180 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Spearfish, SD 57783 87%909$74,844$373,300$233 pricier homes ($109K more) · 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.