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 Smock, PA 15480

Smock: median income $47,375, home value $121,400, $146/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cameron, WV 26033 82%44$55,972$153,600— pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
Winfield, IA 52659 82%617$55,125$110,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Sterling, NY 13156 81%280$64,063$162,500$168 pricier homes ($41K more)
Dillonvale, OH 43917 80%57$59,280$93,900$169 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lyons, NE 68038 80%880$51,362$117,700$112 younger residents · more renters
Crawford, NE 69339 80%1,236$65,529$95,800— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Cassadaga, NY 14718 79%164$56,250$98,000$154 newer homes
Caldwell, KS 67022 79%985$60,000$89,700$191 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Laverne, OK 73848 79%1,111$57,619$124,200— 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Essex, IA 51638 78%817$59,107$120,700$162 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, KS 66087 78%814$56,875$127,300$133 younger residents
Whitewater, KS 67154 78%942$67,813$131,700$121 7 min shorter commute
Portville, NY 14770 77%159$56,910$108,500$141 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Michigantown, IN 46057 77%350$53,173$187,600$137 pricier homes ($66K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Brighton, IA 52540 77%637$55,000$115,300$90 smaller
Toulon, IL 61483 77%535$63,558$109,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Marion, KS 66861 77%930$60,565$150,300$108 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Chappell, NE 69129 77%1,190$67,105$107,000— Very close on everything we compare
Spring Grove, MN 55974 76%659$59,205$186,300$104 pricier homes ($65K more)
Grant City, MO 64456 76%771$48,611$92,000— cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845 76%904$51,771$89,700$106 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Forestport, NY 13338 75%337$58,333$176,300$167 pricier homes ($55K more) · newer homes
Tyndall, SD 57066 75%957$56,389$112,000$119 11 min shorter commute
Gridley, IL 61744 75%482$68,000$170,900$138 pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Humboldt, NE 68376 75%853$52,000$98,600$99 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.