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 Helper, UT 84526

Helper: median income $59,850, home value $228,100, $155/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Knightstown, IN 46148 92%1,341$63,914$186,800$128 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Flora, IN 46929 92%1,284$56,940$186,500$129 cheaper homes ($42K less)
West Alexandria, OH 45381 91%1,394$62,263$204,900$156 newer homes
Michigan Center, MI 49254 91%1,390$63,750$172,100$163 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Elroy, WI 53929 91%1,094$65,568$187,000$130 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Farmland, IN 47340 90%1,359$63,205$175,200$139 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Mitchell, NE 69357 90%401$70,104$182,400$118 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Loudonville, OH 44842 89%1,506$72,737$206,700$156 Very close on everything we compare
Bradford, OH 45308 89%1,396$70,435$171,000$145 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Coloma, MI 49038 89%1,288$62,636$206,800$199 larger
Sigourney, IA 52591 89%985$62,404$156,500$130 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Preston, MN 55965 89%1,004$65,577$206,700$163 smaller
North Jackson, OH 44451 88%1,574$61,250$241,100$193 smaller
Cambria, WI 53923 88%1,151$72,500$220,700$184 smaller · younger residents
Clintonville, WI 54929 88%1,179$64,626$167,100$134 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Catawissa, PA 17820 87%1,804$67,685$214,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
Millmont, PA 17845 87%1,765$66,510$197,200$151 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Glasgow, VA 24555 87%1,691$56,080$185,000$158 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Lowell, NC 28098 87%1,652$53,000$201,500$179 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Covington, OH 45318 87%1,400$73,867$199,400$153 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Pandora, OH 45877 87%1,415$68,665$179,200$145 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Decatur, MI 49045 87%1,303$57,436$177,300$136 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more homeowners
Brooklyn, IA 52211 87%974$73,922$200,300$188 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Alcester, SD 57001 87%772$69,531$177,400$166 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Canton, SD 57013 87%778$76,458$226,000$131 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.