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 Canton, NY 13617

Canton: median income $71,663, home value $161,300, $131/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kirksville, MO 63501 90%937$60,729$168,200$114 larger
Shreveport, LA 71105 89%1,302$67,968$213,000$120 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older residents
Muncie, IN 47304 88%604$63,215$172,200$133 larger · older residents
Morris, MN 56267 88%1,012$74,442$236,800$133 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller
Huntington, WV 25705 87%567$61,329$165,300$114 larger · older residents
Columbus, MS 39705 87%1,043$68,487$231,800$145 pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents · newer homes
Big Rapids, MI 49307 87%515$60,358$187,800$157 pricier homes ($27K more)
Kansas City, MO 64137 87%1,069$66,036$181,700$147 more renters
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 86%256$67,510$222,900$160 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Evansville, IN 47712 86%794$68,494$193,600$133 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Marshall, MN 56258 86%1,013$72,731$219,600$119 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 86%901$66,654$219,800$135 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Wichita Falls, TX 76308 86%1,446$74,772$213,500$131 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Ada, OH 45810 85%512$63,451$167,900$138 smaller · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
South Bend, IN 46637 85%592$71,462$207,100$154 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Hancock, MI 49930 85%667$72,314$214,000$143 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · older homes
Grinnell, IA 50112 85%905$67,078$214,900$136 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Stevens Point, WI 54481 85%708$59,545$201,000$168 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Hays, KS 67601 85%1,302$61,417$227,300$133 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Mansfield, PA 16933 84%215$65,096$210,300$146 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older residents
Waverly, IA 50677 84%869$85,633$232,800$141 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 84%1,444$59,590$165,800$133 older residents
Winona, MN 55987 83%817$61,624$221,800$157 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Saint Cloud, MN 56303 83%929$65,198$205,200$145 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Minot, ND 58703 83%1,265$82,728$263,200$143 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger

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.