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 Ruffs Dale, PA 15679

Ruffs Dale: median income $77,099, home value $200,000, $140/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boydton, VA 23917 93%251$73,965$201,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Ivanhoe, NC 28447 92%390$77,134$241,300— pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Broaddus, TX 75929 91%1,020$69,554$166,900$156 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Middlesex, NY 14507 90%213$77,273$160,800$169 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Leslie, GA 31764 90%619$86,573$211,500— smaller · newer homes
Au Gres, MI 48703 89%340$64,792$172,100$160 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Eddington, ME 04428 87%647$72,857$244,500$159 pricier homes ($45K more)
Clinton, ME 04927 87%601$71,458$187,000$193 younger residents
Pennellville, NY 13132 87%277$72,473$197,200$208 Very close on everything we compare
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 87%322$61,494$228,700$143 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Silver Lake, IN 46982 87%334$79,688$190,400$137 younger residents · more single-family homes
Lansing, IA 52151 87%639$69,938$177,500$167 younger residents
Pepin, WI 54759 87%704$80,750$225,400$194 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Garrison, ND 58540 87%1,206$76,319$228,000$207 pricier homes ($28K more)
Shelby, AL 35143 86%622$72,500$220,000$214 Very close on everything we compare
Kuttawa, KY 42055 86%507$63,456$179,400$152 Very close on everything we compare
West Point, IA 52656 86%622$83,750$189,900$110 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pound, WI 54161 86%552$68,415$190,500$184 Very close on everything we compare
Erhard, MN 56534 86%932$70,694$238,300$145 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · younger residents
Grafton, IL 62037 86%581$73,454$228,500$143 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hemphill, TX 75948 86%1,000$62,028$187,000$168 larger
Milan, NH 03588 85%528$71,538$253,500$155 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · younger residents
Henry, VA 24102 85%230$76,250$173,000$192 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Middlebourne, WV 26149 85%82$71,786$159,900$138 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Germanton, NC 27019 85%270$59,176$205,000$174 more renters

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.