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 Vulcan, MI 49892

Vulcan: median income $74,926, home value $198,900, $116/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterford, OH 45786 95%533$70,917$218,500$140 larger
Fabius, NY 13063 92%618$84,063$230,200$161 pricier homes ($31K more)
Altura, MN 55910 92%232$76,389$259,100$134 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912 91%694$70,046$189,200$121 Very close on everything we compare
Penn Run, PA 15765 91%568$73,646$186,000— Very close on everything we compare
West Point, IA 52656 91%393$83,750$189,900$110 Very close on everything we compare
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 91%541$78,750$269,400— pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller
Leicester, NY 14481 90%532$79,135$163,000$152 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Rockfield, KY 42274 90%614$80,704$182,100$152 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomingdale, OH 43910 90%513$71,396$181,600$153 larger
Silver Lake, IN 46982 90%338$79,688$190,400$137 Very close on everything we compare
Lanark, IL 61046 90%272$79,398$167,400$141 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more walkable
Fowler, IL 62338 90%435$91,473$226,800$112 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Windsor, NY 13865 89%656$73,623$177,900$138 larger
Eland, WI 54427 89%95$83,958$189,800$134 smaller
Hanna City, IL 61536 89%365$74,249$172,300$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Milan, PA 18831 88%622$82,132$216,900$122 smaller
Washington, WV 26181 88%551$73,977$197,700$147 larger
Littlefork, MN 56653 88%324$74,583$168,900$119 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Gifford, IL 61847 88%377$92,344$182,700$149 smaller
Argenta, IL 62501 88%406$95,889$172,200$125 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Dawson, IL 62520 88%416$84,500$226,400$101 pricier homes ($28K more)
Centertown, MO 65023 88%546$72,663$221,200$193 Very close on everything we compare
Easton, KS 66020 88%578$78,594$320,100— pricier homes ($121K more)
Darien Center, NY 14040 87%506$88,779$210,100$141 older homes

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.