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 Corning, NY 14830

Corning: median income $73,263, home value $169,800, $117/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wausau, WI 54403 93%654$69,030$192,600$149 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18512 92%89$64,708$176,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Sayre, PA 18840 90%29$59,214$171,300$136 smaller
South Bend, IN 46615 89%472$62,964$139,600$146 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Rockford, IL 61107 89%613$78,574$175,400$133 larger
Erie, PA 16511 88%152$74,102$172,300$152 smaller
Kingston, PA 18704 88%84$64,444$162,000$129 larger
Huntington, WV 25701 88%384$56,292$164,300$115 Very close on everything we compare
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 88%239$63,342$167,300$170 larger
Oak Park, MI 48237 88%314$71,510$212,300$165 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Davenport, IA 52803 88%696$64,543$161,100$122 older homes
Appleton, WI 54911 88%590$67,001$216,100$174 pricier homes ($46K more)
Moline, IL 61265 88%693$66,933$147,000$131 larger
Huntington, WV 25705 87%381$61,329$165,300$114 newer homes
Springfield, OH 45504 87%385$69,960$180,600$151 Very close on everything we compare
Green Bay, WI 54301 87%574$78,684$225,600$175 pricier homes ($56K more)
Johnstown, PA 15904 86%159$67,394$176,200$124 older residents · newer homes
Youngstown, OH 44512 86%202$63,317$170,700$137 larger · newer homes
Lansing, MI 48906 86%385$64,315$139,700$132 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Battle Creek, MI 49015 86%418$68,821$184,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Valley City, ND 58072 86%1,080$64,375$177,800$108 smaller · newer homes
Belleville, IL 62220 86%725$65,952$157,400$112 more walkable
Hastings, NE 68901 86%1,109$66,585$190,100$109 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Pittston, PA 18640 85%86$60,862$147,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Wheeling, WV 26003 85%234$57,703$166,100$132 larger · 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.