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 Van Etten, NY 14889

Van Etten: median income $61,944, home value $147,800, $112/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carthage, IN 46115 93%499$61,406$172,800$147 pricier homes ($25K more)
Evansville, IL 62242 93%759$60,400$121,800$92 cheaper homes ($26K less)
East Brady, PA 16028 92%180$62,750$162,200$114 Very close on everything we compare
Ashley, MI 48806 92%407$61,375$155,600$112 5 min shorter commute
New Boston, IL 61272 92%746$64,167$145,900$110 Very close on everything we compare
Petrolia, PA 16050 91%184$56,708$132,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Stoneboro, PA 16153 91%191$63,750$149,300— larger · 5 min shorter commute
Hopewell, PA 16650 91%170$62,426$157,700$132 Very close on everything we compare
Clay City, IN 47841 91%587$71,346$116,300$135 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Wakefield, KS 67487 91%1,088$67,813$183,900$126 pricier homes ($36K more)
Lawrence, MI 49064 90%485$68,607$171,500$93 larger
Liberal, MO 64762 90%1,002$58,750$108,600$90 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Bronte, TX 76933 90%1,483$55,104$157,500$132 Very close on everything we compare
Fayette City, PA 15438 89%224$53,917$145,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Marion Center, PA 15759 89%161$57,132$168,600$119 larger
Mayport, PA 16240 89%162$58,281$142,400$135 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, PA 16611 89%139$70,887$167,500— larger
Worthington, IN 47471 89%586$69,609$147,900$90 larger
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 89%754$61,875$167,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
New Franklin, MO 65274 89%875$69,833$158,100$139 Very close on everything we compare
Summerville, PA 15864 88%154$65,859$141,400$109 older homes
Hustontown, PA 17229 88%167$70,313$201,600$144 pricier homes ($54K more)
Virgilina, VA 24598 88%404$61,985$150,100$172 Very close on everything we compare
Livermore, KY 42352 88%647$53,750$143,000$153 Very close on everything we compare
Clay, KY 42404 88%680$61,293$115,300$104 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger

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.