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 Brocton, NY 14716

Brocton: median income $60,278, home value $109,700, $104/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Postville, IA 52162 88%616$64,125$133,100$107 larger · younger residents
Ladd, IL 61329 88%508$67,321$129,600$118 smaller · more single-family homes
Salisbury, PA 15558 87%183$64,038$142,000$113 pricier homes ($32K more) · more single-family homes
West Unity, OH 43570 87%263$68,500$129,600$137 newer homes
Union City, IN 47390 86%318$50,417$97,600$100 larger · 5 min longer commute
Falls Creek, PA 15840 85%92$57,344$123,100$123 older residents · newer homes
North Baltimore, OH 45872 85%234$62,298$127,700$79 larger
Winchester, IN 47394 85%327$59,913$111,300$114 larger
Chariton, IA 50049 85%721$61,190$124,900$107 larger
Lenox, IA 50851 84%787$70,926$121,000— more single-family homes
Grindstone, PA 15442 83%166$57,246$93,200$137 7 min longer commute
Ida Grove, IA 51445 83%817$64,688$114,800$96 older residents · more single-family homes
Warren, MN 56762 83%932$62,933$160,100$102 pricier homes ($50K more) · newer homes
Rossville, IL 60963 83%449$66,250$98,300$87 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Milan, MO 63556 83%727$58,851$124,100$107 older residents · newer homes
Medicine Lodge, KS 67104 83%1,073$66,125$115,600$91 more single-family homes
Tonkawa, OK 74653 83%1,028$59,079$88,300$118 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 82%73$68,347$79,200— cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Pioneer, OH 43554 82%267$52,917$161,000$119 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents
Renville, MN 56284 82%805$72,500$162,500$116 pricier homes ($53K more)
Westville, IL 61883 82%456$56,169$101,400$93 larger · more single-family homes
Wellington, TX 79095 82%1,232$58,889$103,600$72 more single-family homes
Limestone, ME 04750 81%649$48,750$96,600$121 older residents
Burnham, PA 17009 81%155$73,088$145,700$99 pricier homes ($36K more) · more walkable
Charleston, WV 25315 81%308$55,083$90,200$98 older residents · 6 min longer commute

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.