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 Sharon Springs, NY 13459

Sharon Springs: median income $65,893, home value $172,600, $173/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stoneboro, PA 16153 92%299$63,750$149,300— Very close on everything we compare
Alma, KS 66401 91%1,159$73,516$220,900$176 pricier homes ($48K more)
Virgilina, VA 24598 90%480$61,985$150,100$172 newer homes
Darlington, IN 47940 90%656$70,711$152,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 90%853$61,875$167,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesfield, OH 45896 89%505$62,449$173,000$145 Very close on everything we compare
Shirley, IN 47384 89%599$74,167$158,300$152 more homeowners
Union City, MI 49094 89%540$65,404$143,800$141 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Schleswig, IA 51461 89%1,061$73,768$183,100— smaller
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 89%1,168$68,750$158,100— smaller · newer homes
Otis, CO 80743 89%1,471$67,734$226,300$154 pricier homes ($54K more)
Rossiter, PA 15772 88%259$62,727$133,700$164 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Sandy Lake, PA 16145 88%297$67,321$180,100$150 newer homes
Ashley, MI 48806 88%501$61,375$155,600$112 Very close on everything we compare
Kellogg, IA 50135 88%938$65,250$165,200$157 6 min shorter commute
Dayton, IA 50530 88%990$73,250$167,900— smaller
Preston, IA 52069 88%807$75,313$169,500$155 6 min shorter commute
Sharon, WI 53585 88%718$74,779$200,400$229 pricier homes ($28K more)
Forreston, IL 61030 88%765$71,655$157,200$130 Very close on everything we compare
Sterling, NE 68443 88%1,134$67,969$174,000$188 smaller · more single-family homes
Bentleyville, PA 15314 87%335$59,356$166,300$134 larger · more walkable
Smithton, PA 15479 87%322$63,852$202,700$204 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Paris, OH 44669 87%364$82,411$202,100$153 pricier homes ($30K more)
Rockford, OH 45882 87%539$74,625$161,700$143 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Melbourne, IA 50162 87%944$71,417$176,600$135 smaller

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.