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 Rochester, PA 15074

Rochester: median income $54,063, home value $145,400, $106/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nitro, WV 25143 92%179$53,205$128,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, WV 26034 92%18$56,556$138,400$109 smaller
Herkimer, NY 13350 91%315$56,157$136,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Binghamton, NY 13904 91%247$53,984$121,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Clifton Forge, VA 24422 91%202$48,750$113,400$80 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
La Salle, IL 61301 91%462$60,328$129,000$104 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, NY 14513 90%229$65,309$150,300$121 larger
Newcomerstown, OH 43832 90%76$58,333$138,800$107 Very close on everything we compare
Wayne, MI 48184 90%194$59,171$158,000$124 larger
Red Oak, IA 51566 90%781$56,637$134,200$109 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia, MN 55792 90%768$53,750$129,500$87 7 min shorter commute
Raton, NM 87740 90%1,324$52,815$153,100$114 5 min shorter commute
Massena, NY 13662 89%399$59,106$119,400$115 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Bluefield, VA 24605 89%245$52,653$137,200$105 Very close on everything we compare
Dunbar, WV 25064 89%180$57,263$119,900$116 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Waterloo, NY 13165 88%231$59,981$121,600$125 less walkable
Charleston, WV 25302 88%175$55,210$155,300$93 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Huntington, WV 25704 88%201$53,189$119,700$105 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Moundsville, WV 26041 88%61$54,419$144,700$109 larger
Shadyside, OH 43947 88%58$58,269$153,600$130 smaller
Marion, IN 46952 88%284$52,880$146,700$111 larger
Hartford City, IN 47348 88%269$50,426$109,500$113 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Clinton, IN 47842 88%385$56,750$119,400$109 cheaper homes ($26K less) · less walkable
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 88%188$52,161$179,400$124 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Mendota, IL 61342 88%464$65,348$153,500$112 Very close on everything we compare

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.