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 Saint Michael, MN 55376

Saint Michael: median income $131,266, home value $389,200, $185/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 96%974$140,403$405,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
Crestwood, KY 40014 96%635$121,189$393,700$187 Very close on everything we compare
Sunbury, OH 43074 95%645$119,296$426,100$205 pricier homes ($37K more)
New Lenox, IL 60451 95%384$137,404$393,100$212 larger
Eureka, MO 63025 95%488$125,676$391,500$181 Very close on everything we compare
Trussville, AL 35173 94%883$117,105$345,300$184 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Union, KY 41091 94%629$136,307$399,500$193 Very close on everything we compare
Macomb, MI 48042 94%562$126,667$410,000$192 larger · older residents
Sachse, TX 75048 94%860$131,087$407,200$181 larger
Mc Donald, PA 15057 93%756$120,821$355,400$192 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Pickerington, OH 43147 93%664$126,534$348,300$185 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Morrow, OH 45152 93%633$123,366$351,700$200 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Oxford, MI 48371 93%541$111,239$370,200$196 Very close on everything we compare
Algonquin, IL 60102 93%340$132,949$349,900$206 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Spring Hill, KS 66083 93%449$116,791$370,700$203 smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76126 93%893$113,905$383,700$200 Very close on everything we compare
Tomball, TX 77377 93%1,052$129,327$378,200$161 larger
Leonardtown, MD 20650 92%997$143,116$481,700$182 pricier homes ($93K more) · more renters
Fortville, IN 46040 92%539$147,500$435,700$168 pricier homes ($47K more)
Saint John, IN 46373 92%405$127,146$408,900$187 older residents
Mokena, IL 60448 92%385$120,761$385,900$208 older residents
Oswego, IL 60543 92%361$119,371$343,800$206 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Basehor, KS 66007 92%425$121,266$381,200$209 smaller
Swedesboro, NJ 08085 91%1,004$134,762$384,500$225 Very close on everything we compare
Douglassville, PA 19518 91%969$114,181$354,700$210 cheaper homes ($35K 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.