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 Sharon, WI 53585

Sharon: median income $74,779, home value $200,400, $229/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Smithton, PA 15479 93%494$63,852$202,700$204 Very close on everything we compare
Hokah, MN 55941 93%157$72,500$219,400$253 smaller
Hammond, NY 13646 90%667$72,212$155,100$213 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Malta, IL 60150 90%42$86,719$188,400$200 Very close on everything we compare
Rebersburg, PA 16872 89%593$72,708$199,200— smaller
Otis, CO 80743 89%753$67,734$226,300$154 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Sharon Springs, NY 13459 88%718$65,893$172,600$173 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chaffee, NY 14030 88%520$78,182$218,700$209 more homeowners
Crewe, VA 23930 88%673$68,255$163,600$231 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · newer homes
Mount Victory, OH 43340 88%304$72,446$192,900$201 younger residents
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 88%406$81,625$159,300$191 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Brooklyn, IA 52211 88%197$73,922$200,300$188 newer homes
Arlington, MN 55307 88%304$73,533$250,400$168 pricier homes ($50K more)
Dwight, IL 60420 88%100$71,157$167,100$151 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Mont Alto, PA 17237 87%609$80,903$193,600$205 newer homes
Lewisburg, OH 45338 87%285$74,776$191,900$175 larger
Schleswig, IA 51461 87%344$73,768$183,100— smaller · older residents
Ethan, SD 57334 87%473$62,167$206,500— smaller
Dakota, IL 61018 87%43$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Alma, KS 66401 87%464$73,516$220,900$176 older residents
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 87%703$68,750$158,100— cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · newer homes
East Bethany, NY 14054 86%538$79,286$172,300$142 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Romulus, NY 14541 86%604$77,375$232,200$311 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Mentone, IN 46539 86%168$74,079$159,000$163 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Gaston, IN 47342 86%227$75,030$173,300$187 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer 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.