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 Hamel, MN 55340

Hamel: median income $178,553, home value $639,100, $234/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakland, MI 48363 95%541$179,375$618,200$226 Very close on everything we compare
Galena, OH 43021 93%639$167,941$564,700$220 cheaper homes ($74K less)
San Antonio, TX 78255 92%1,100$157,428$531,400$212 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Avondale, PA 19311 91%975$155,771$540,800$197 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Shawnee, KS 66218 91%421$168,878$436,600$207 cheaper homes ($203K less)
Arvada, CO 80007 91%691$176,122$872,000$242 pricier homes ($233K more) · larger
Windham, NH 03087 90%1,115$189,583$723,300$322 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Chesterfield, NJ 08515 90%1,020$208,836$560,000$253 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min longer commute
Marriottsville, MD 21104 90%938$191,804$680,200$243 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Novi, MI 48374 90%532$182,827$577,700$222 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Stilwell, KS 66085 90%438$152,500$538,300$241 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less)
Austin, TX 78737 90%1,054$168,920$765,000$270 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger
Littleton, CO 80125 90%702$179,983$762,200$231 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85045 90%1,279$153,583$634,600$280 older residents
Jamison, PA 18929 89%994$179,380$627,700$274 7 min longer commute
New Hill, NC 27562 89%1,005$172,955$614,300$238 smaller
Venetia, PA 15367 88%761$135,542$544,100$216 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less)
Lincoln University, PA 19352 88%971$165,365$473,200$225 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Gambrills, MD 21054 88%959$163,825$611,000$251 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Moseley, VA 23120 88%974$158,667$569,300$224 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Lenexa, KS 66220 88%427$177,206$590,500$212 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Flower Mound, TX 75022 88%854$177,357$657,400$258 larger
Sunnyvale, TX 75182 88%864$170,348$565,300$208 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bow, NH 03304 87%1,098$172,857$506,500$279 cheaper homes ($133K less) · older homes
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 87%1,005$157,009$488,100$252 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger

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.