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 Houston, MN 55943

Houston: median income $72,411, home value $239,600, $209/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Augusta, MI 49012 95%329$73,125$253,900$214 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, MI 49236 95%403$79,783$230,300$175 larger
Jamestown, IN 46147 93%367$80,707$216,800$203 Very close on everything we compare
New Lothrop, MI 48460 93%383$80,000$213,900$195 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Spring Valley, WI 54767 93%81$83,917$265,000$190 pricier homes ($25K more)
Malad City, ID 83252 93%1,049$76,328$271,600$229 pricier homes ($32K more)
Cornish, ME 04020 92%1,034$69,038$274,200$201 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Pleasantville, OH 43148 92%541$72,072$242,000$202 smaller
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215 92%527$80,893$222,900$199 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Odessa, MI 48849 92%331$80,313$223,600$194 larger
Baxter, IA 50028 92%158$72,022$206,300$203 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Palmyra, WI 53156 92%162$85,313$238,200$191 Very close on everything we compare
Union, ME 04862 91%1,104$73,536$252,300$246 newer homes
Volant, PA 16156 91%606$69,054$221,400— 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, PA 16611 91%724$70,887$167,500— cheaper homes ($72K less)
Millerstown, PA 17062 91%771$90,893$233,000$209 Very close on everything we compare
Markleville, IN 46056 91%403$72,423$229,600$207 smaller · older residents
Clayton, IN 46118 91%386$78,298$276,900$166 pricier homes ($37K more)
Strum, WI 54770 91%54$83,636$226,500$189 smaller
Beresford, SD 57004 91%266$88,750$264,100$168 Very close on everything we compare
Ovalo, TX 79541 91%920$71,032$271,400$219 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Bridgeport, NY 13030 90%782$68,306$206,400$250 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Poland, NY 13431 90%826$76,000$245,100$150 smaller
Jamestown, OH 45335 90%494$81,690$193,400$172 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Lakeville, IN 46536 90%311$78,448$227,000$164 Very close on everything we compare

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.