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 Atlantic Mine, MI 49905

Atlantic Mine: median income $77,617, home value $211,300, $122/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Conway Springs, KS 67031 92%811$88,000$191,500$141 Very close on everything we compare
Cadyville, NY 12918 88%739$91,951$206,700$146 older residents
Denver, IA 50622 88%355$95,089$254,100$144 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Baton Rouge, LA 70819 88%1,156$73,561$171,000$125 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Gower, MO 64454 87%597$87,262$260,800$151 pricier homes ($50K more)
Wilson, TX 79381 87%1,171$97,625$228,300$179 smaller
New Berlin, IL 62670 86%510$78,750$211,900$134 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral Point, PA 15942 85%674$84,875$185,000$88 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Cheney, KS 67025 85%801$86,840$205,100$127 larger
Garden Plain, KS 67050 85%795$86,875$308,800$170 pricier homes ($98K more)
Donnellson, IA 52625 84%467$80,078$205,300$125 Very close on everything we compare
Le Roy, IL 61752 84%466$87,591$178,100$135 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Gruver, TX 79040 84%992$84,583$156,400$122 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Castle Dale, UT 84513 84%1,246$82,958$218,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Greentown, IN 46936 83%476$79,900$223,300$152 larger
Dike, IA 50624 83%373$96,713$260,100$156 pricier homes ($49K more)
Athens, IL 62613 83%493$86,675$200,900$141 larger · newer homes
Sedgwick, KS 67135 83%774$74,939$213,700$168 larger
Elmore, OH 43416 82%471$88,611$197,100$158 older homes
Battle Ground, IN 47920 82%463$90,441$276,300$151 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents
Parkersburg, IA 50665 82%372$75,521$217,700$134 older residents
Chapman, KS 67431 82%701$82,500$199,500$117 Very close on everything we compare
Axtell, NE 68924 82%690$85,000$236,800$103 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · older homes
Yorktown, IN 47396 81%503$78,125$175,000$155 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Mediapolis, IA 52637 81%438$81,477$194,500$169 Very close on everything we compare

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.