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.

Reset

Towns most like Hardin, MO 64035

Hardin: median income $86,756, home value $138,300, $144/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tiro, OH 44887 93%593$85,793$135,000$159 Very close on everything we compare
Hamlet, IN 46532 92%407$84,866$145,100$138 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Nortonville, KS 66060 89%79$77,222$155,800— older residents
White Deer, TX 79097 89%485$88,182$144,600— 6 min shorter commute
Deerfield, MI 49238 88%555$75,054$208,200$163 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 87%661$81,625$159,300$191 larger
Boswell, IN 47921 87%352$100,455$165,000$114 pricier homes ($27K more)
Hopkinton, IA 52237 87%247$84,063$166,800$104 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Boyd, WI 54726 86%412$78,500$192,100$114 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Atlanta, IL 61723 86%253$85,230$150,800$113 larger · older residents
Colfax, IN 46035 85%386$73,357$164,700$192 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hubbardston, MI 48845 85%534$86,042$172,500$164 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
East Bethany, NY 14054 84%852$79,286$172,300$142 pricier homes ($34K more)
Helena, OH 43435 84%570$89,000$176,400$167 pricier homes ($38K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Royal Center, IN 46978 84%401$78,750$130,000$119 larger · older residents
Shirley, IN 47384 84%444$74,167$158,300$152 larger · older residents
Hillsboro, IN 47949 84%359$76,429$118,800$112 more apartments and townhomes
Reynolds, IL 61279 84%217$87,656$161,500$128 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
La Rue, OH 43332 83%560$81,382$146,600$188 larger · older residents · older homes
Tonica, IL 61370 83%282$91,094$155,100$130 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Friend, NE 68359 83%202$90,909$179,900$109 pricier homes ($42K more)
Grover Hill, OH 45849 81%506$77,841$124,500$99 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Loganville, WI 53943 81%343$73,000$225,600— pricier homes ($87K more)
Downey, ID 83234 81%975$81,083$229,300$178 pricier homes ($91K more) · older residents
Windfall, IN 46076 80%424$73,889$123,400$123 older residents · 5 min shorter commute

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.