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 Norwich, NY 13815

Norwich: median income $61,469, home value $133,900, $113/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clearfield, PA 16830 94%183$58,304$130,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Meadville, PA 16335 93%245$57,591$161,600$133 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Carbondale, PA 18407 93%66$59,652$162,800$108 pricier homes ($29K more)
East Moline, IL 61244 93%767$63,819$139,400$129 larger
Pontiac, IL 61764 93%685$68,781$127,400$117 Very close on everything we compare
Wilkes Barre, PA 18706 92%94$58,558$138,300$121 younger residents
Mansfield, OH 44906 92%383$52,624$140,300$147 Very close on everything we compare
Essexville, MI 48732 92%425$57,903$169,600$133 pricier homes ($36K more)
Presque Isle, ME 04769 91%467$55,768$147,200$148 Very close on everything we compare
Pittston, PA 18640 91%86$60,862$147,500$116 5 min longer commute
South Charleston, WV 25309 91%434$57,937$158,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Charleston, WV 25311 91%431$62,800$137,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Crookston, MN 56716 91%1,084$59,744$196,100$110 pricier homes ($62K more)
Valley City, ND 58072 91%1,140$64,375$177,800$108 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Silvis, IL 61282 91%766$64,398$160,100$137 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Mattoon, IL 61938 91%702$57,503$111,700$107 larger
Elkins, WV 26241 90%337$50,538$152,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Fairmont, MN 56031 90%956$54,847$179,300$111 pricier homes ($45K more)
Mendota, IL 61342 90%700$65,348$153,500$112 Very close on everything we compare
Sparta, IL 62286 90%805$61,220$117,800$94 smaller
Lincoln, IL 62656 90%736$62,017$141,600$109 more single-family homes
Mount Vernon, IL 62864 90%761$60,451$124,800$110 larger
Raton, NM 87740 90%1,577$52,815$153,100$114 smaller
Somerset, PA 15501 89%253$59,245$171,100$121 pricier homes ($37K more)
Pittston, PA 18643 89%83$63,125$174,500$128 pricier homes ($41K more)

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.