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 Holmen, WI 54636

Holmen: median income $96,384, home value $321,500, $182/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 95%201$98,333$314,400$215 Very close on everything we compare
Grain Valley, MO 64029 95%375$91,704$309,300$186 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Dallas, TX 75065 95%812$102,597$334,400$194 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, VA 23836 94%859$100,921$356,400$192 pricier homes ($35K more)
Palmetto, GA 30268 94%804$91,349$305,900$167 smaller
Alachua, FL 32615 94%1,091$85,701$297,200$172 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, OH 43040 94%479$99,321$311,100$189 larger
Plainfield, IN 46168 94%388$90,000$297,200$159 larger
Forest Lake, MN 55025 94%123$98,382$405,000$201 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Platte City, MO 64079 94%367$99,161$350,900$188 pricier homes ($29K more)
Raymore, MO 64083 94%394$101,667$337,400$189 larger
Tyler, TX 75707 94%834$84,954$274,900$173 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Bellville, TX 77418 94%1,006$90,611$344,400$174 smaller
North East, MD 21901 93%842$113,719$367,400$210 pricier homes ($46K more)
Carrollton, VA 23314 93%911$104,029$409,500$211 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Chester, VA 23831 93%856$95,750$336,700$207 larger
Lakeland, FL 33811 93%1,218$90,263$333,200$190 larger
Holland, OH 43528 93%414$93,986$276,100$165 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Lebanon, OH 45036 93%481$99,128$352,200$212 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Tipp City, OH 45371 93%458$93,599$302,300$164 older homes
Brookline, MO 65619 93%484$85,024$244,500$179 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Houma, LA 70360 93%994$84,890$286,000$157 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Whitehouse, TX 75791 93%840$92,107$267,000$173 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Hewitt, TX 76643 93%923$83,511$273,300$176 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Pasadena, TX 77505 93%1,013$98,125$294,800$155 cheaper homes ($27K less)

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.