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 Avella, PA 15312

Avella: median income $73,542, home value $215,300, $137/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pleasureville, KY 40057 93%282$77,866$226,700$132 newer homes
Eagle Bridge, NY 12057 92%412$68,306$205,700$132 smaller
New Holland, OH 43145 92%156$73,500$177,600$173 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Bartlett, TX 76511 92%1,154$69,286$222,900$132 Very close on everything we compare
Dillsboro, IN 47018 91%260$61,085$188,800$167 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Columbiaville, MI 48421 91%249$71,114$220,600$165 larger · newer homes
New Lothrop, MI 48460 91%269$80,000$213,900$195 Very close on everything we compare
Otisville, MI 48463 91%255$72,500$191,500$151 Very close on everything we compare
Bellevue, MI 49021 91%282$82,959$184,400$141 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Osawatomie, KS 66064 91%784$67,321$172,100$164 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Paint Lick, KY 40461 90%282$71,212$201,800$148 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Williamsport, OH 43164 90%149$68,000$190,300$199 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Berlin Center, OH 44401 90%58$71,953$237,300$171 newer homes
Yale, MI 48097 90%232$63,659$198,700$124 larger
Brown City, MI 48416 90%242$66,474$222,000$116 newer homes
Melrose, WI 54642 90%603$73,452$210,600$152 smaller · newer homes
Wakefield, KS 67487 90%882$67,813$183,900$126 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Kinsman, OH 44428 89%81$59,375$166,400$129 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min longer commute
Wanatah, IN 46390 89%344$87,639$228,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, MI 48655 89%282$66,115$175,700$132 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Mayville, MI 48744 89%261$67,944$159,800$162 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Lawrence, MI 49064 89%320$68,607$171,500$93 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Grove City, MN 56243 89%796$71,528$178,900$126 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lockport, LA 70374 89%927$70,833$180,400$131 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · newer homes
Poland, NY 13431 88%344$76,000$245,100$150 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute

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.