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 Tarentum, PA 15084

Tarentum: median income $63,090, home value $115,800, $119/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chester, WV 26034 89%41$56,556$138,400$109 smaller
Wood River, IL 62095 89%560$65,013$111,000$110 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, MO 64054 89%783$59,719$117,600$140 smaller
Nitro, WV 25143 88%187$53,205$128,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
New Martinsville, WV 26155 88%87$64,485$150,500$110 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Dansville, NY 14437 87%172$66,332$124,800$118 less walkable
Lyons, NY 14489 87%223$68,250$98,800$131 less walkable
Shadyside, OH 43947 87%68$58,269$153,600$130 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
East Alton, IL 62024 87%560$56,761$126,500$102 Very close on everything we compare
Caseyville, IL 62232 87%561$64,269$125,000$143 newer homes
North Manchester, IN 46962 86%315$67,984$159,600$135 pricier homes ($44K more) · less walkable
Fowler, IN 47944 86%394$55,242$131,400$120 smaller
Estherville, IA 51334 86%794$57,482$112,000$111 less walkable
Fort Madison, IA 52627 86%605$56,401$116,500$85 less walkable
Belleville, IL 62223 86%564$73,700$159,400$116 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · newer homes
Mount Morris, NY 14510 85%174$61,713$104,700$94 smaller
Newark, NY 14513 85%218$65,309$150,300$121 pricier homes ($35K more) · less walkable
Dunbar, WV 25064 85%187$57,263$119,900$116 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Clinton, IN 47842 85%409$56,750$119,400$109 less walkable
Clinton, IA 52732 85%548$61,105$122,100$95 larger · 6 min shorter commute
La Salle, IL 61301 85%488$60,328$129,000$104 less walkable
Abilene, KS 67410 85%931$65,855$146,700$98 pricier homes ($31K more) · less walkable
Silver Creek, NY 14136 84%136$69,567$151,500$118 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · less walkable
Elmira, NY 14903 84%183$67,012$129,400$127 more renters · less walkable
Girard, OH 44420 84%60$61,707$121,100$122 larger · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable

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.