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.

Reset

Towns most like Alum Bank, PA 15521

Alum Bank: median income $53,947, home value $209,700, $158/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Anson, ME 04958 94%549$55,089$156,300$177 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Goldston, NC 27252 94%322$50,435$171,600$189 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Lunenburg, VT 05906 93%461$51,106$168,800$156 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Fort Ashby, WV 26719 93%48$54,167$211,600$147 Very close on everything we compare
Danbury, NC 27016 93%272$57,273$177,300$176 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Athens, MI 49011 93%368$59,722$158,600$139 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Gerald, MO 63037 93%689$50,203$177,500$151 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Rossburg, OH 45362 92%317$61,687$231,500$152 smaller
Mikado, MI 48745 92%391$49,844$157,800$187 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Winslow, AR 72959 92%894$51,923$197,000$182 larger
Phillips, ME 04966 91%529$47,969$176,500$208 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Corydon, KY 42406 91%516$62,470$187,200$132 Very close on everything we compare
Rome City, IN 46784 91%364$62,102$220,400$193 Very close on everything we compare
Six Lakes, MI 48886 91%404$61,667$165,600$179 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Prentice, WI 54556 91%697$54,375$144,800$147 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Merrillan, WI 54754 91%688$58,125$170,200$208 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Hill City, MN 55748 91%883$53,810$201,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
North Haverhill, NH 03774 90%433$58,452$227,900$192 more walkable
Addison, ME 04606 90%633$50,524$163,500$191 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Prospect, TN 38477 90%579$60,542$223,200$182 larger
Alger, MI 48610 90%395$59,091$150,200$159 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Barryton, MI 49305 90%416$51,875$148,100$138 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Falmouth, MI 49632 90%431$46,696$151,000$171 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Sears, MI 49679 90%421$62,120$180,600$197 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Hillman, MI 49746 90%432$47,432$164,400$125 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger

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.