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 Solon, IA 52333

Solon: median income $118,721, home value $366,900, $177/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richland, MI 49083 95%313$105,496$348,100$170 Very close on everything we compare
Belmont, MI 49306 95%315$115,039$373,500$214 larger
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 94%758$117,130$385,600$185 Very close on everything we compare
Dewitt, MI 48820 94%361$112,526$337,100$181 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Hampden, ME 04444 92%1,153$106,554$293,000$200 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Jamesville, NY 13078 92%790$119,191$313,000$221 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Lewisville, NC 27023 92%714$107,924$369,100$199 larger
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 92%381$119,410$359,500$167 larger
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 92%301$106,250$305,900$181 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Kearney, MO 64060 92%226$112,683$356,600$186 larger
Amarillo, TX 79124 92%722$112,541$362,300$187 larger
Gurley, AL 35748 91%563$103,563$356,300$198 5 min longer commute
Macedonia, OH 44056 91%518$101,285$308,500$195 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Bellbrook, OH 45305 91%417$123,045$329,500$180 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Roanoke, IN 46783 91%324$101,705$303,700$185 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Springfield, MO 65809 91%332$111,364$402,200$168 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Greenfield Center, NY 12833 90%903$102,832$345,600$183 Very close on everything we compare
Mills River, NC 28759 90%655$107,609$444,300$274 pricier homes ($77K more)
Whitehouse, OH 43571 90%398$108,143$296,600$204 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Pine Island, MN 55963 90%176$112,287$376,900$167 younger residents
Columbia, IL 62236 90%243$108,981$306,600$156 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Hartsburg, MO 65039 90%218$125,714$412,400$176 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Suffield, CT 06078 89%968$116,054$412,400$255 pricier homes ($46K more)
Ocean View, NJ 08230 89%899$115,152$410,200$245 pricier homes ($43K more)
Syracuse, NY 13215 89%783$113,864$304,900$201 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · 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.