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 Frohna, MO 63748

Frohna: median income $59,478, home value $177,000, $100/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rosebush, MI 48878 94%488$57,656$150,300$92 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Andalusia, IL 61232 92%267$73,971$186,100$118 Very close on everything we compare
Montrose, IA 52639 90%218$68,625$163,800$103 Very close on everything we compare
Transfer, PA 16154 89%553$57,870$167,000$106 larger
Genesee, PA 16923 89%691$73,864$173,900— Very close on everything we compare
Melber, KY 42069 88%72$48,929$208,500$111 pricier homes ($32K more)
Island Falls, ME 04747 87%1,238$56,795$120,200$111 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Port Hope, MI 48468 87%563$63,000$151,100$136 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 7 min longer commute
Harrisville, MI 48740 87%584$54,393$155,800$133 larger
Wilcox, PA 15870 86%643$63,750$126,800— cheaper homes ($50K less)
Lincoln, MI 48742 86%585$66,477$170,300$126 larger
Wallace, MI 49893 86%538$63,125$197,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Ionia, IA 50645 86%400$64,408$114,600— cheaper homes ($62K less)
Laona, WI 54541 86%547$63,438$193,800$104 younger residents
Glenville, MN 56036 86%448$73,287$182,400$98 younger residents
Payson, IL 62360 86%172$54,706$147,500$111 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Berrien Center, MI 49102 84%346$63,000$262,400$148 pricier homes ($85K more)
Elgin, IA 52141 84%380$64,647$115,500$99 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Tampico, IL 61283 84%275$64,063$122,300$103 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents
Findlay, IL 62534 84%137$68,750$125,200$116 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min longer commute
Lachine, MI 49753 83%594$57,292$152,800$131 8 min longer commute
Brockport, PA 15823 82%634$51,125$146,100— cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Pleasantville, PA 16341 82%601$61,818$121,800$148 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Flintstone, MD 21530 82%614$63,542$202,400$137 pricier homes ($25K more) · 7 min longer commute
Walton, IN 46994 82%276$56,563$136,200$102 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 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.