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 North Tonawanda, NY 14120

North Tonawanda: median income $74,871, home value $222,500, $215/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lebanon, PA 17042 95%226$74,831$237,300$186 Very close on everything we compare
Aliquippa, PA 15001 94%186$70,985$189,100$186 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Washington, PA 15301 94%212$70,473$206,800$172 Very close on everything we compare
Enfield, CT 06082 92%328$90,404$252,900$228 pricier homes ($30K more)
Latrobe, PA 15650 92%193$63,305$181,700$196 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Staunton, VA 24401 92%338$66,300$278,600$220 pricier homes ($56K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63123 92%675$77,055$219,400$193 Very close on everything we compare
Torrington, CT 06790 91%305$70,912$215,600$191 Very close on everything we compare
Butler, PA 16001 91%160$63,635$199,100$156 Very close on everything we compare
North Olmsted, OH 44070 91%193$84,363$219,800$177 Very close on everything we compare
Massillon, OH 44646 91%206$69,179$196,400$161 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Highland, IN 46322 91%452$78,062$233,300$168 smaller
Muskegon, MI 49441 91%374$67,427$213,500$169 younger residents
Racine, WI 53402 91%453$75,751$230,800$190 Very close on everything we compare
Metairie, LA 70003 91%1,098$76,261$261,000$166 pricier homes ($39K more)
Greensburg, PA 15601 90%193$78,555$228,000$175 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, OH 44319 90%199$79,221$196,600$172 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Wooster, OH 44691 90%222$69,920$230,300$182 newer homes
Warren, MI 48092 90%217$73,808$220,400$156 smaller
Waterford, MI 48328 90%230$72,299$222,900$195 smaller
Boone, IA 50036 90%767$79,255$194,400$171 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 90%505$82,783$245,900$201 smaller
Beaver Dam, WI 53916 90%503$71,188$220,300$190 smaller
Manitowoc, WI 54220 90%448$66,035$176,300$160 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Green Bay, WI 54301 90%468$78,684$225,600$175 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.