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 Blue Grass, IA 52726

Blue Grass: median income $104,250, home value $276,100, $168/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sugarloaf, PA 18249 96%762$97,593$298,400$152 Very close on everything we compare
Sarver, PA 16055 95%575$90,950$315,300$169 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Auburn, PA 17922 95%763$99,260$257,100$163 Very close on everything we compare
Armada, MI 48005 95%412$105,734$331,100$181 pricier homes ($55K more)
Grass Lake, MI 49240 95%341$99,681$298,700$193 larger
Elysburg, PA 17824 94%738$118,176$244,900$173 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Conestoga, PA 17516 93%760$103,942$313,500$185 pricier homes ($37K more)
Manchester, MI 48158 93%348$94,784$312,200$190 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Stillman Valley, IL 61084 93%90$102,817$214,100$184 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Lebanon, CT 06249 92%954$109,135$345,900$216 pricier homes ($70K more)
Eighty Four, PA 15330 92%565$111,680$367,600$202 pricier homes ($92K more)
Fombell, PA 16123 92%550$102,500$251,400$211 smaller
Bernville, PA 19506 92%765$106,422$341,900$192 pricier homes ($66K more)
Fincastle, VA 24090 92%643$90,521$286,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Lambertville, MI 48144 92%368$101,410$270,000$160 larger
Bristol, WI 53104 92%155$112,000$325,100$226 pricier homes ($49K more)
Freeburg, IL 62243 92%219$103,342$279,500$143 Very close on everything we compare
Holden, ME 04429 91%1,134$97,244$313,600$191 pricier homes ($38K more)
Galway, NY 12074 91%859$94,583$304,800$234 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Dexter, NY 13634 91%763$92,109$225,500$181 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Walworth, NY 14568 91%696$102,604$195,500$190 cheaper homes ($81K less)
New Tripoli, PA 18066 91%782$109,115$328,400$191 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents
Shavertown, PA 18708 91%764$98,545$264,800$167 larger
Mohrsville, PA 19541 91%770$107,625$312,400$184 pricier homes ($36K more)
Satsuma, AL 36572 91%751$99,773$220,700$162 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min shorter 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.