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 Lyons, NY 14489

Lyons: median income $68,250, home value $98,800, $131/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgway, PA 15853 94%148$59,344$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 93%139$68,347$79,200— smaller
Winchester, IN 47394 93%460$59,913$111,300$114 Very close on everything we compare
Girard, OH 44420 91%231$61,707$121,100$122 larger
Sebewaing, MI 48759 91%327$65,222$118,700$155 smaller
Estherville, IA 51334 91%896$57,482$112,000$111 Very close on everything we compare
La Salle, IL 61301 91%630$60,328$129,000$104 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Rockwell City, IA 50579 90%895$61,108$126,000$118 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Wood River, IL 62095 90%742$65,013$111,000$110 larger
Johnstown, PA 15909 89%208$61,016$110,200$107 smaller · older residents
Portland, IN 47371 89%451$64,000$123,000$111 larger
Chariton, IA 50049 89%848$61,190$124,900$107 pricier homes ($26K more)
Sterling, IL 61081 89%654$67,586$123,400$113 larger
Midland, PA 15059 88%245$66,231$137,500$131 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Reynoldsville, PA 15851 88%168$63,158$119,300$141 newer homes
Struthers, OH 44471 88%232$54,571$106,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Kentland, IN 47951 88%560$66,156$115,600$107 smaller
Webster City, IA 50595 88%854$69,167$153,800$116 pricier homes ($55K more)
Oglesby, IL 61348 88%629$76,369$146,800$143 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Clinton, IL 61727 88%650$70,063$117,200$93 Very close on everything we compare
De Leon, TX 76444 88%1,396$68,147$115,800$124 smaller · newer homes
Tarentum, PA 15084 87%223$63,090$115,800$119 more walkable
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 87%191$52,500$102,500$92 Very close on everything we compare
Windber, PA 15963 87%219$61,566$135,700$92 pricier homes ($37K more)
Kane, PA 16735 87%134$57,489$93,900$89 Very close on everything we compare

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.