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 Sidney, NY 13838

Sidney: median income $53,306, home value $122,000, $75/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, NE 68305 85%1,067$57,906$125,400$104 more single-family homes
Kincheloe, MI 49788 83%525$57,524$112,200$70 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Burns Flat, OK 73624 83%1,363$45,491$106,700— smaller
Akron, OH 44302 82%328$42,400$134,300$79 older homes
Rockford, IL 61103 79%699$51,161$115,500$98 larger
Mobile, AL 36611 78%1,061$46,559$117,500$88 more single-family homes
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 78%690$53,622$100,600$82 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Pontiac, MI 48341 77%404$51,390$150,500$119 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Shreveport, LA 71104 77%1,210$56,833$164,000$97 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Nanticoke, PA 18634 76%83$61,439$111,700$108 larger · more homeowners
Center Line, MI 48015 76%390$54,703$156,600$142 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Beaumont, TX 77702 76%1,338$62,125$137,000$76 older residents · more homeowners · more walkable
Pittston, PA 18640 75%71$60,862$147,500$116 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more homeowners
Collinsville, VA 24078 75%455$53,665$143,400$119 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Camilla, GA 31730 75%908$58,500$106,300$65 larger · newer homes
Decatur, IL 62522 75%727$50,669$113,600$75 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Slater, MO 65349 75%947$45,982$98,400$82 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Boron, CA 93516 75%2,311$61,000$126,600$151 Very close on everything we compare
Mcadoo, PA 18237 74%102$47,174$103,300$95 more homeowners
Plymouth, PA 18651 74%79$41,990$97,600$79 larger · older homes
Mc Rae Helena, GA 31055 74%819$45,885$143,100$94 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Evansville, IN 47713 74%708$40,873$95,900$80 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 74%743$49,798$139,100$132 larger · newer homes
Rockford, IL 61101 74%701$46,163$90,600$92 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Rantoul, IL 61866 74%676$50,686$121,300$112 larger · 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.