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 Auburn, NY 13021

Auburn: median income $60,712, home value $180,700, $144/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kingston, PA 18704 96%119$64,444$162,000$129 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44709 94%287$57,842$161,200$144 smaller
Sandusky, OH 44870 93%331$62,082$163,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, OH 44146 92%275$54,925$155,000$146 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Uniontown, PA 15401 91%266$53,925$155,600$123 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Wheeling, WV 26003 91%288$57,703$166,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44708 91%290$63,706$171,700$149 smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45224 91%488$56,471$204,000$150 smaller
Meadville, PA 16335 90%204$57,591$161,600$133 less walkable
Toledo, OH 43614 90%373$58,961$168,400$141 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44130 90%289$69,655$195,500$188 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44144 90%284$60,223$149,900$161 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Butler, PA 16001 89%224$63,635$199,100$156 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18505 89%116$52,398$156,700$121 smaller
Cumberland, MD 21502 89%259$60,725$153,700$113 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Lexington, KY 40505 89%534$58,206$179,200$170 newer homes
Sheboygan, WI 53081 89%563$64,042$180,100$178 younger residents
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 88%250$62,411$197,500$171 smaller
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136 88%249$69,099$184,900$165 smaller
Williamsport, PA 17701 88%119$53,237$183,900$127 younger residents
Scranton, PA 18512 88%114$64,708$176,100$130 smaller
Huntington, WV 25701 88%439$56,292$164,300$115 smaller
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 88%281$63,342$167,300$170 younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45215 88%484$69,372$226,400$180 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents
New Albany, IN 47150 88%581$62,820$207,000$152 pricier homes ($26K more) · 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.