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 Romulus, NY 14541

Romulus: median income $77,375, home value $232,200, $311/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Williamsfield, OH 44093 88%210$74,808$209,300$258 smaller
Ronks, PA 17572 86%192$80,804$288,800$237 pricier homes ($57K more) · 5 min longer commute
Sharon, WI 53585 86%604$74,779$200,400$229 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hokah, MN 55941 86%732$72,500$219,400$253 smaller
Lakin, KS 67860 86%1,323$88,264$194,400$246 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Aberdeen, ID 83210 86%1,808$74,615$213,300$184 Very close on everything we compare
Randolph, WI 53956 85%615$84,231$232,800$226 older residents
Atwater, MN 56209 85%906$86,118$230,800$277 Very close on everything we compare
Farwell, TX 79325 85%1,518$71,771$163,400— cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · newer homes
Paul, ID 83347 85%1,862$79,643$296,700$204 pricier homes ($65K more) · newer homes
Naches, WA 98937 85%2,154$77,143$369,300$244 pricier homes ($137K more)
Augusta, WI 54722 84%725$71,181$231,500$215 newer homes
Twin Peaks, CA 92391 84%2,239$81,789$340,500$317 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · more walkable
Harrah, WA 98933 84%2,139$75,972$241,400— smaller · newer homes
Rebersburg, PA 16872 83%127$72,708$199,200— cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Richland, PA 17087 83%166$93,150$225,200$219 smaller · older residents
Mechanicsburg, OH 43044 83%395$76,397$235,400$220 older residents
Howe, IN 46746 83%447$73,244$160,800$187 cheaper homes ($71K less) · newer homes
Murdock, MN 56271 83%936$64,861$222,700— smaller
Huntington, UT 84528 83%1,782$71,053$206,100— cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents · newer homes
Smithton, PA 15479 82%234$63,852$202,700$204 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Volant, PA 16156 82%209$69,054$221,400— older residents
Wonewoc, WI 53968 82%677$74,479$207,600$198 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Harrisburg, OR 97446 82%2,291$78,229$339,300$289 pricier homes ($107K more) · newer homes
Baldwinville, MA 01436 81%243$77,721$342,700$277 pricier homes ($111K more) · older 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.