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 Dalton, NY 14836

Dalton: median income $74,130, home value $114,500, $80/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newman, IL 61942 90%557$76,884$110,400$91 Very close on everything we compare
Chandlerville, IL 62627 86%655$63,235$84,300$100 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Cherry Tree, PA 15724 84%132$67,500$110,100$102 larger · newer homes
Mahaffey, PA 15757 83%122$56,176$105,600— Very close on everything we compare
Babbitt, MN 55706 83%770$56,750$112,500$91 larger
West Salem, IL 62476 83%597$65,543$91,800— newer homes
Galeton, PA 16922 82%58$67,063$158,800$109 pricier homes ($44K more) · more renters
New Windsor, IL 61465 82%651$56,875$127,400$76 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, IL 62324 82%698$76,903$96,600$57 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Rural Valley, PA 16249 81%140$68,214$164,400$100 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hastings, PA 16646 80%136$66,359$119,200$70 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Losantville, IN 47354 80%415$66,566$120,900$98 younger residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Osceola Mills, PA 16666 79%117$63,262$118,600$110 larger · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Mapleton Depot, PA 17052 79%149$67,115$133,900$101 younger residents
Amsterdam, OH 43903 79%212$73,281$135,500$99 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Chappell, NE 69129 79%1,262$67,105$107,000— 7 min shorter commute
Central City, PA 15926 78%176$62,019$106,400$130 larger · younger residents
Barton, MD 21521 78%216$64,194$107,500$119 10 min shorter commute
Wellsburg, IA 50680 78%764$75,956$140,900$61 pricier homes ($26K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Snow Shoe, PA 16874 77%104$79,375$178,100— pricier homes ($64K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Chadwick, IL 61014 77%613$69,329$103,800$70 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Findlay, IL 62534 76%601$68,750$125,200$116 10 min shorter commute
Greenview, IL 62642 76%635$77,538$112,700$119 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Venus, PA 16364 75%114$74,886$183,500— pricier homes ($69K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Coalport, PA 16627 75%128$64,013$92,800— larger · younger residents · newer 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.