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 Vestal, NY 13850

Vestal: median income $83,403, home value $194,100, $153/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Midland, MI 48642 96%428$77,847$207,400$153 Very close on everything we compare
Marshall, MI 49068 95%458$80,857$214,800$170 smaller
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 94%167$81,540$219,500$158 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Midland, MI 48640 94%432$80,574$200,700$147 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, IL 61571 94%701$90,386$204,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46614 93%527$74,153$187,500$145 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61107 93%666$78,574$175,400$133 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, PA 17821 92%82$76,971$249,500$164 pricier homes ($55K more)
Portage, MI 49002 92%489$73,647$246,400$174 pricier homes ($52K more)
Morton, IL 61550 92%704$98,516$246,700$147 pricier homes ($53K more)
Oberlin, OH 44074 91%325$80,801$234,200$151 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · younger residents
Youngstown, OH 44514 91%249$79,808$205,500$161 Very close on everything we compare
Green Bay, WI 54301 91%626$78,684$225,600$175 pricier homes ($32K more)
Spartanburg, SC 29302 90%587$80,819$285,400$156 pricier homes ($91K more)
North Canton, OH 44720 90%292$82,594$243,500$177 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Southfield, MI 48076 90%369$90,058$264,400$163 pricier homes ($70K more)
Grand Ledge, MI 48837 90%447$96,517$253,200$174 pricier homes ($59K more)
Geneseo, IL 61254 90%730$92,297$222,700$141 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Bartlesville, OK 74006 90%1,122$71,796$200,100$118 Very close on everything we compare
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 89%291$90,335$217,800$179 older residents
Troy, OH 45373 89%449$75,742$253,400$168 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Mason, MI 48854 89%433$94,716$248,600$164 pricier homes ($55K more)
Waverly, IA 50677 89%836$85,633$232,800$141 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · younger residents
Du Bois, PA 15801 88%156$67,583$181,800$151 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35210 88%827$73,061$255,800$191 pricier homes ($62K more) · 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.