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 Indian River, MI 49749

Indian River: median income $65,608, home value $244,300, $234/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harrison, ME 04040 91%689$57,218$256,300$283 younger residents
Swanton, MD 21561 90%493$73,858$328,700$295 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller
Lancaster, VA 22503 90%675$74,051$272,000$211 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Danbury, WI 54830 90%373$66,941$267,400$229 Very close on everything we compare
Iron River, WI 54847 90%337$68,795$266,600$236 smaller
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 89%689$69,057$313,500$292 pricier homes ($69K more)
Cable, WI 54821 89%324$57,813$321,400$268 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Cedaredge, CO 81413 89%1,271$58,465$355,800$245 pricier homes ($112K more)
Kents Hill, ME 04349 88%713$59,500$257,600$307 smaller
Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571 88%742$62,917$312,400$204 pricier homes ($68K more)
Mercer, WI 54547 88%268$63,500$306,600$296 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Birchwood, WI 54817 88%338$83,036$275,000$229 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Landrum, SC 29356 87%721$64,514$292,000$203 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · younger residents
Micanopy, FL 32667 87%1,107$81,659$258,300$197 younger residents
Nevis, MN 56467 87%501$74,297$318,000$263 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · younger residents
Hancock, ME 04640 86%801$71,699$269,100$292 smaller · younger residents
Clarksville, VA 23927 86%684$70,938$295,500$198 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents · more renters
Tryon, NC 28782 86%716$72,946$345,200$238 pricier homes ($101K more)
Trego, WI 54888 86%352$63,971$240,500$249 smaller
Hackensack, MN 56452 86%486$62,941$352,700$300 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
Danville, VT 05828 85%614$72,121$279,100$208 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · younger residents
Three Lakes, WI 54562 85%221$57,422$326,300$370 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Solon Springs, WI 54873 85%353$88,359$253,100$243 Very close on everything we compare
Mcgregor, MN 55760 85%426$59,474$274,600$276 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Tower, MN 55790 85%400$77,232$328,900$339 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller

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.