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 Hemlock, NY 14466

Hemlock: median income $108,085, home value $213,500, $164/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Adams, MN 55909 93%764$96,736$213,200$122 Very close on everything we compare
Kenesaw, NE 68956 91%1,095$94,231$203,700$123 smaller
Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 89%669$102,917$212,500$128 newer homes
Fombell, PA 16123 88%192$102,500$251,400$211 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Curtice, OH 43412 88%302$107,885$229,300$188 larger
Mulliken, MI 48861 88%371$89,412$184,600$157 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Hookstown, PA 15050 87%213$91,406$209,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Newbury, OH 44065 87%208$95,442$285,800$183 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Sharpsville, IN 46068 87%471$98,708$189,700$154 younger residents
Argenta, IL 62501 87%614$95,889$172,200$125 cheaper homes ($41K less) · newer homes
Addieville, IL 62214 86%698$104,063$169,100— cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · younger residents
Crescent, PA 15046 85%206$81,992$195,600$178 lower income ($26K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Scenery Hill, PA 15360 85%226$85,341$246,300$140 pricier homes ($33K more)
Elysburg, PA 17824 85%143$118,176$244,900$173 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · newer homes
Berkey, OH 43504 85%328$91,731$260,300$203 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Duncan Falls, OH 43734 85%301$113,000$226,200$179 newer homes
Milan, OH 44846 85%277$93,333$243,500$180 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Princeton, IA 52768 85%658$112,563$291,100$151 pricier homes ($78K more) · newer homes
Fithian, IL 61844 85%564$105,179$153,400$139 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Huntington, MA 01050 84%242$95,882$289,500$176 pricier homes ($76K more) · younger residents
Bozrah, CT 06334 84%290$107,969$310,400$236 pricier homes ($97K more)
West Alexander, PA 15376 84%239$86,607$218,900$121 Very close on everything we compare
State Center, IA 50247 84%796$91,875$181,300$139 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Cordova, IL 61242 84%655$104,219$218,100$106 smaller
Waldo, OH 43356 83%326$92,870$250,500— pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · older residents

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.