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 Dayton, MN 55327

Dayton: median income $140,366, home value $492,400, $214/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Kent, VA 23124 95%998$132,060$398,600$231 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Fisherville, KY 40023 93%638$144,635$497,800$184 Very close on everything we compare
Arcadia, OK 73007 92%690$120,556$494,200$230 smaller
Manchaca, TX 78652 91%1,068$133,368$528,100$204 pricier homes ($36K more)
Eads, TN 38028 90%722$151,389$463,600$210 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
New River, AZ 85087 90%1,258$138,566$552,300$274 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older residents
Maidens, VA 23102 89%958$126,635$510,200$272 smaller
Adams, TN 37010 89%682$118,179$424,900$213 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Foristell, MO 63348 89%463$115,661$386,200$231 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Mead, CO 80542 89%678$133,500$614,600$192 pricier homes ($122K more)
Colbert, WA 99005 89%1,147$125,530$561,100$216 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · older homes
Lone Jack, MO 64070 88%437$130,364$370,400$207 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · older homes
Bulverde, TX 78163 88%1,100$140,594$435,600$207 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Toano, VA 23168 87%1,016$137,481$424,900$207 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Eaton, CO 80615 86%654$107,308$522,000$232 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Chesterfield, VA 23838 85%983$134,651$465,500$206 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Bishop, GA 30621 85%949$117,917$463,600$208 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Pleasant View, TN 37146 85%695$110,938$373,500$209 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($119K less)
Ostrander, OH 43061 85%622$157,568$400,300$229 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older homes
Greenwood, MO 64034 85%440$120,041$350,900$194 cheaper homes ($142K less) · older homes
Lavon, TX 75166 85%857$132,101$396,600$163 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Waxahachie, TX 75167 85%905$117,714$411,200$202 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Waddell, AZ 85355 85%1,288$123,055$494,000$238 larger
Fresno, CA 93737 85%1,483$127,279$525,400$262 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Hollywood, MD 20636 84%988$163,690$474,000$218 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.