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 Blackfoot, ID 83221

Blackfoot: median income $75,172, home value $281,300, $176/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lebanon, IN 46052 94%1,350$68,930$221,900$178 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Ocala, FL 34480 93%1,933$77,557$282,700$184 newer homes
Goshen, IN 46528 93%1,352$81,529$247,600$147 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Auburn, IN 46706 93%1,396$80,965$219,100$162 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Brainerd, MN 56401 93%920$73,128$261,600$192 older residents
La Porte, TX 77571 93%1,335$81,850$237,500$157 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Franklin, OH 45005 92%1,470$75,399$218,600$182 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents
Casper, WY 82604 92%303$79,118$288,900$170 Very close on everything we compare
Kenai, AK 99611 92%2,002$79,757$308,500$245 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23237 91%1,868$79,606$277,100$196 Very close on everything we compare
Maryville, TN 37804 91%1,593$79,025$272,500$215 older residents
Millersburg, OH 44654 91%1,572$79,345$297,800$197 Very close on everything we compare
Sterling Heights, MI 48310 91%1,476$78,058$274,700$160 older residents
Paw Paw, MI 49079 91%1,339$73,333$234,400$165 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older residents
Kaukauna, WI 54130 91%1,201$89,131$260,600$196 older residents
Sparta, WI 54656 91%1,077$72,379$214,400$155 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · older residents
Waco, TX 76708 91%1,154$68,856$219,900$165 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Carlsbad, NM 88220 91%866$78,162$206,900$198 cheaper homes ($74K less)
York, PA 17406 90%1,847$83,521$234,100$162 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Quarryville, PA 17566 90%1,872$78,108$306,200$233 smaller
Newton, NC 28658 90%1,729$72,042$214,000$176 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents
Griffin, GA 30224 90%1,662$70,216$239,100$155 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more renters
Gardendale, AL 35071 90%1,521$82,074$261,600$153 smaller · older residents
Louisville, KY 40229 90%1,437$79,936$215,100$166 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Angola, IN 46703 90%1,392$74,569$231,300$173 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older residents

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.