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 Berlin, NH 03570

Berlin: median income $45,180, home value $131,000, $98/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Herkimer, NY 13350 90%214$56,157$136,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Rumford, ME 04276 89%31$38,403$127,700$110 smaller · older residents
Scranton, PA 18508 89%309$49,895$145,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Salamanca, NY 14779 88%411$42,593$85,900$104 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Binghamton, NY 13904 87%286$53,984$121,100$106 newer homes
Plymouth, PA 18651 87%329$41,990$97,600$79 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 5 min longer commute
Virginia, MN 55792 86%1,042$53,750$129,500$87 newer homes
Hornell, NY 14843 85%357$57,874$112,100$76 Very close on everything we compare
Luzerne, PA 18709 85%325$42,135$113,600$96 smaller
Dunkirk, NY 14048 84%430$56,431$104,000$83 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Scranton, PA 18504 84%311$55,036$160,900$130 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Akron, OH 44302 84%574$42,400$134,300$79 smaller · more renters
Elmira, NY 14904 83%328$53,174$92,200$86 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · younger residents
Nanticoke, PA 18634 83%333$61,439$111,700$108 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, OH 45506 83%719$42,104$107,300$102 more single-family homes
Westfield, NY 14787 82%446$53,587$118,400$113 smaller
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 82%574$45,923$103,600$82 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more single-family homes
Elmira, NY 14901 81%327$40,989$93,800$65 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · more renters
Jackson, MI 49202 81%681$42,632$116,100$122 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Jamestown, NY 14701 80%437$49,685$105,300$104 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Lewistown, PA 17044 80%421$59,935$142,600$125 larger · newer homes
Frackville, PA 17931 80%362$56,507$125,500$88 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Scranton, PA 18505 80%311$52,398$156,700$121 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Bellaire, OH 43906 80%578$46,380$113,900$83 more single-family homes · newer homes
Rockford, IL 61103 80%909$51,161$115,500$98 larger · newer 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.