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 Vanderbilt, PA 15486

Vanderbilt: median income $66,250, home value $164,000, $79/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bloomingdale, MI 49026 95%364$68,203$161,400$96 Very close on everything we compare
Ossineke, MI 49766 94%388$61,346$161,800$100 Very close on everything we compare
Shipman, IL 62685 93%549$64,063$154,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Stuart, OK 74570 93%967$57,131$163,000— Very close on everything we compare
Ridgeland, WI 54763 92%714$65,417$160,200$88 smaller
La Center, KY 42056 91%541$56,776$131,300$91 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Lore City, OH 43755 91%93$68,581$166,700$89 younger residents
Glenmont, OH 44628 91%134$61,518$183,200$70 smaller · younger residents
Thayer, KS 66776 91%867$57,304$136,100— cheaper homes ($28K less)
Stony Creek, VA 23882 90%246$63,030$155,000$65 Very close on everything we compare
Ettrick, WI 54627 90%658$77,212$223,800$93 pricier homes ($60K more)
Windsor, IL 61957 90%474$75,583$141,900$88 Very close on everything we compare
West Union, WV 26456 89%78$58,000$164,400— older homes
Hixton, WI 54635 89%654$72,566$209,100$110 pricier homes ($45K more)
Mulkeytown, IL 62865 89%525$67,798$153,200$60 older residents
Karnak, IL 62956 89%535$73,462$128,800— cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Avondale, CO 81022 89%1,335$60,481$210,400$87 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912 88%433$70,046$189,200$121 pricier homes ($25K more)
Perrysburg, NY 14129 88%173$68,542$158,100$57 smaller · older homes
Lowman, NY 14861 88%211$64,904$149,100— smaller
Slaughters, KY 42456 88%455$59,500$155,600$89 newer homes
Wheeler, MI 48662 88%337$70,321$131,100$101 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Twin Valley, MN 56584 88%964$69,625$131,600$85 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Coulterville, IL 62237 88%548$55,208$150,200$85 newer homes
Clarksville, MO 63336 88%599$71,875$162,500$107 smaller

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.