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 Hancock, MI 49930

Hancock: median income $72,314, home value $214,000, $143/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Colby, KS 67701 91%824$70,250$177,300— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Orange City, IA 51041 89%463$83,643$277,000$141 pricier homes ($63K more) · newer homes
Delhi, NY 13753 88%747$70,000$216,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Morris, MN 56267 88%366$74,442$236,800$133 newer homes
Canton, NY 13617 85%667$71,663$161,300$131 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · newer homes
Grinnell, IA 50112 85%426$67,078$214,900$136 larger · older residents
Rothschild, WI 54474 85%164$81,635$193,600$147 smaller · older residents
Hays, KS 67601 85%787$61,417$227,300$133 larger · newer homes
Lubbock, TX 79413 85%1,169$69,400$208,600$117 larger
Marshall, MN 56258 84%394$72,731$219,600$119 larger · newer homes
Chadron, NE 69337 84%764$54,306$163,800— cheaper homes ($50K less)
Waverly, IA 50677 83%355$85,633$232,800$141 larger · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Mansfield, PA 16933 82%675$65,096$210,300$146 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Moosic, PA 18507 82%751$75,395$266,700$165 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents
Winona Lake, IN 46590 82%431$82,188$274,500$152 pricier homes ($61K more) · newer homes
Fredonia, NY 14063 81%557$57,937$183,500$146 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Geneva, NY 14456 81%637$81,310$186,300$138 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Oberlin, OH 44074 81%511$80,801$234,200$151 larger · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Appleton, WI 54911 81%198$67,001$216,100$174 larger · 5 min longer commute
Fairbury, IL 61739 81%442$76,555$164,400$112 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Mcpherson, KS 67460 81%760$80,720$220,500$113 larger · older residents · newer homes
Monte Vista, CO 81144 81%1,110$64,662$234,200$191 older residents
Grove City, PA 16127 80%589$72,429$213,700$191 larger · 9 min longer commute
Lewisburg, PA 17837 80%717$88,975$288,100$170 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · older residents
South Charleston, WV 25303 80%698$75,872$173,200$121 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute

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.