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, NY 12022

Berlin: median income $96,875, home value $208,100, $221/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Malvern, IA 51551 91%1,146$85,469$212,400$250 larger
Plain, WI 53577 90%843$96,500$271,100$154 pricier homes ($63K more)
Landisville, NJ 08326 89%234$79,583$276,100$219 pricier homes ($68K more)
Canistota, SD 57012 89%1,203$94,375$180,200$199 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Malta, IL 60150 89%793$86,719$188,400$200 larger · younger residents
Gowrie, IA 50543 88%1,064$91,563$155,100— cheaper homes ($53K less)
Elmwood, WI 54740 88%949$79,387$239,700$231 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Chester, MA 01011 87%34$89,299$291,400$223 pricier homes ($83K more) · older residents
Spiceland, IN 47385 87%657$103,406$211,200$161 larger · younger residents
Collins, IA 50055 87%1,018$85,278$200,000$199 newer homes
Reeseville, WI 53579 87%783$79,792$239,100$207 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Downey, ID 83234 87%1,954$81,083$229,300$178 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, WI 53502 86%814$87,000$252,300$220 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Erving, MA 01344 85%48$77,656$271,800$209 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Hilliards, PA 16040 85%349$84,792$177,700$183 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
New Ross, IN 47968 85%718$83,242$213,400$230 8 min shorter commute
Dexter, IA 50070 85%1,069$92,083$213,300$174 older residents
Palmyra, WI 53156 85%771$85,313$238,200$191 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · newer homes
Argyle, WI 53504 85%836$83,690$220,700$188 larger · older residents
Ellendale, MN 56026 85%1,004$100,169$232,700$181 larger · more homeowners
Clifton, IL 60927 85%758$102,143$213,700$144 larger
Woodville, OH 43469 84%519$86,410$205,500$161 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Paris, OH 44669 84%422$82,411$202,100$153 larger
Redfield, IA 50233 84%1,067$78,984$204,300$171 more homeowners
Richland, PA 17087 83%219$93,150$225,200$219 larger · 9 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.