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 Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Watkins Glen: median income $61,875, home value $164,700, $184/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gwinn, MI 49841 95%587$60,568$166,800$180 larger
Towanda, PA 18848 91%48$59,861$175,200$128 larger
South Charleston, OH 45368 91%393$60,850$168,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, NH 03584 90%305$66,768$209,500$163 pricier homes ($45K more)
Horicon, WI 53032 90%598$56,085$189,000$165 younger residents
Whitefield, NH 03598 89%299$67,179$227,600$224 pricier homes ($63K more)
Brookville, PA 15825 89%140$64,130$158,700$204 larger
Seneca, PA 16346 89%159$59,718$153,700$136 Very close on everything we compare
Old Forge, PA 18518 89%92$71,812$174,400$148 larger
Wyoming, PA 18644 89%91$70,026$179,200$159 larger
Athens, PA 18810 89%36$58,750$208,400$139 pricier homes ($44K more)
Ripon, WI 54971 89%610$66,699$193,000$189 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Madison, ME 04950 88%391$61,747$187,600$197 6 min longer commute · more renters
Derry, PA 15627 88%189$59,398$157,000$164 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Connellsburg, PA 17233 88%177$61,296$195,500$166 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Olyphant, PA 18447 88%92$66,677$207,900$150 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Altavista, VA 24517 88%385$53,201$145,200$151 Very close on everything we compare
Elkin, NC 28621 88%471$53,616$159,000$171 larger
Essexville, MI 48732 88%360$57,903$169,600$133 larger
Richland Center, WI 53581 88%688$64,833$196,100$150 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Gorham, NH 03581 87%321$64,127$196,400$135 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Randolph, ME 04346 87%382$66,574$174,300$199 smaller
Sharpsville, PA 16150 87%199$56,334$148,200$147 larger · more single-family homes
Knox, PA 16232 87%157$65,525$142,800$172 Very close on everything we compare
Harborcreek, PA 16421 87%156$64,091$224,200$184 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · more single-family 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.