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 South Dayton, NY 14138

South Dayton: median income $56,868, home value $111,700, $134/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Point Marion, PA 15474 94%187$62,500$117,700$136 younger residents
Toulon, IL 61483 92%564$63,558$109,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Hollsopple, PA 15935 89%148$61,941$99,600$121 more homeowners
Adena, OH 43901 88%177$63,603$107,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Fayette, OH 43521 87%275$60,550$120,500$136 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Dunkirk, OH 45836 87%261$56,250$119,700$117 younger residents
Nickerson, KS 67561 87%1,042$57,434$95,000— younger residents
Grindstone, PA 15442 86%168$57,246$93,200$137 7 min shorter commute
Mount Savage, MD 21545 86%185$60,264$130,700$111 6 min shorter commute
Bloomville, OH 44818 86%224$63,922$141,300$116 pricier homes ($30K more) · more single-family homes
Lyons, NE 68038 86%891$51,362$117,700$112 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, OH 43912 85%182$55,668$121,600$121 larger · newer homes
Waldron, MI 49288 85%280$66,833$147,500$129 pricier homes ($36K more)
Olin, IA 52320 85%619$62,222$131,300$109 newer homes
Winfield, IA 52659 85%644$55,125$110,900$156 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Barry, IL 62312 85%650$68,571$98,300$105 6 min shorter commute
Brook, IN 47922 84%441$61,033$125,500$111 smaller · newer homes
Cambridge, IL 61238 84%577$64,583$131,100$106 more homeowners
Summerville, PA 15864 83%88$65,859$141,400$109 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Knoxville, PA 16928 83%87$69,155$120,800$141 7 min longer commute
Trevorton, PA 17881 83%165$54,122$120,000$88 Very close on everything we compare
Camden, IN 46917 83%405$61,643$143,900$132 pricier homes ($32K more) · more homeowners
Tatum, NM 88267 83%1,459$52,250$111,400— smaller · newer homes
Sligo, PA 16255 82%90$56,058$119,300$93 newer homes
Morenci, MI 49256 82%269$62,880$129,400$98 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.