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 Shell Lake, WI 54871

Shell Lake: median income $69,342, home value $241,000, $163/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hico, TX 76457 97%1,007$72,238$264,100$164 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Comb, OH 45858 96%520$74,709$196,700$144 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Cogan Station, PA 17728 95%805$77,165$235,500$172 Very close on everything we compare
Waterford, OH 45786 95%677$70,917$218,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
New Era, MI 49446 95%315$65,217$209,100$175 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Wallingford, VT 05773 94%944$80,726$261,700$155 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Clare, WV 26408 94%746$72,819$227,400$175 smaller
Kersey, PA 15846 93%733$70,662$165,700— cheaper homes ($75K less)
Millville, PA 17846 93%836$66,591$224,700$143 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomingdale, OH 43910 93%674$71,396$181,600$153 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Creston, OH 44217 93%602$73,603$199,200$186 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Vienna, OH 44473 93%647$72,978$179,200$164 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Fairland, IN 46126 93%523$70,607$263,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
Climax, MI 49034 93%410$73,929$213,600$180 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Three Oaks, MI 49128 93%381$67,398$258,300$192 older homes
Henning, MN 56551 93%169$63,750$238,200$167 Very close on everything we compare
Silver Lake, KS 66539 93%500$87,554$230,600$138 Very close on everything we compare
Ceresco, NE 68017 93%400$69,375$230,000$186 smaller
Saegertown, PA 16433 92%651$68,542$187,300$155 cheaper homes ($54K less)
East New Market, MD 21631 92%955$73,864$306,700$198 pricier homes ($66K more)
Washington, WV 26181 92%692$73,977$197,700$147 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Grand Rapids, OH 43522 92%503$76,583$219,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Doylestown, OH 44230 92%612$79,526$229,000$189 larger
Brookston, IN 47923 92%438$80,205$202,100$177 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Baroda, MI 49101 92%378$75,048$252,100$164 more apartments and townhomes

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.