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 Akron, NY 14001

Akron: median income $75,107, home value $232,300, $199/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waldoboro, ME 04572 95%463$69,107$274,900$192 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Freedom, PA 15042 94%184$75,742$231,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Swanzey, NH 03446 93%313$85,484$262,100$228 pricier homes ($30K more)
New Ringgold, PA 17960 92%207$73,281$231,300$168 smaller
Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 92%469$78,700$232,000$204 Very close on everything we compare
Port Clinton, OH 43452 92%249$67,490$222,000$258 larger
Fort Gratiot, MI 48059 92%201$80,062$221,700$166 larger
Amery, WI 54001 92%706$80,344$286,800$200 pricier homes ($55K more) · more single-family homes
Newport, NH 03773 91%319$81,232$239,300$213 Very close on everything we compare
Valdese, NC 28690 91%529$67,000$211,300$219 Very close on everything we compare
Bucksport, ME 04416 90%497$64,587$250,900$195 smaller · younger residents
Centre Hall, PA 16828 90%158$76,468$273,800$192 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Lyndonville, VT 05851 89%338$68,488$227,200$177 Very close on everything we compare
Finleyville, PA 15332 89%206$66,578$197,600$165 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Sebring, FL 33875 89%1,088$77,482$237,200$180 newer homes
Columbiana, OH 44408 89%186$74,028$208,000$179 5 min shorter commute
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 89%567$66,667$227,000$184 Very close on everything we compare
Waupaca, WI 54981 89%537$72,640$218,700$193 larger · more single-family homes
Lake City, MN 55041 89%694$78,672$275,200$221 pricier homes ($43K more) · more walkable
Stafford Springs, CT 06076 88%325$92,016$267,300$219 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Cabot, PA 16023 88%167$86,042$255,600$263 smaller
Duncannon, PA 17020 88%196$73,396$230,900$180 more single-family homes
Marysville, PA 17053 88%202$82,269$227,500$189 smaller
Bath, PA 18014 88%224$82,027$288,700$223 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents
Old Fort, NC 28762 88%548$66,410$196,600$225 cheaper homes ($36K less)

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.