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 Vandergrift, PA 15690

Vandergrift: median income $55,457, home value $111,800, $90/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Davenport, IA 52802 95%580$54,380$93,500$79 Very close on everything we compare
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 92%73$45,923$103,600$82 Very close on everything we compare
Wood River, IL 62095 92%573$65,013$111,000$110 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, IN 47842 91%422$56,750$119,400$109 newer homes
Elwood, IN 46036 90%332$62,074$117,700$118 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46408 90%412$47,453$102,600$86 larger
Hartford City, IN 47348 90%307$50,426$109,500$113 newer homes
Bay City, MI 48708 89%301$50,518$107,700$104 larger
East Alton, IL 62024 89%573$56,761$126,500$102 newer homes
Whitehall, NY 12887 88%374$56,709$123,400$97 smaller
Mingo Junction, OH 43938 88%61$55,446$101,300$70 smaller
Struthers, OH 44471 88%62$54,571$106,300$128 5 min shorter commute
Union City, IN 47390 88%280$50,417$97,600$100 smaller
Fort Madison, IA 52627 88%618$56,401$116,500$85 Very close on everything we compare
La Salle, IL 61301 88%500$60,328$129,000$104 7 min shorter commute
Streator, IL 61364 88%486$59,060$103,700$128 larger
West Frankfort, IL 62896 88%537$55,458$88,900$89 newer homes
Las Animas, CO 81054 88%1,269$48,398$134,100$109 smaller
Mount Morris, NY 14510 87%165$61,713$104,700$94 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Bridgeport, OH 43912 87%76$55,668$121,600$121 smaller
Akron, OH 44301 87%107$51,321$104,700$105 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Peru, IN 46970 87%342$57,842$118,700$88 larger · newer homes
Oelwein, IA 50662 87%653$48,646$107,700$68 more homeowners
Rockford, IL 61102 87%508$46,599$98,900$105 larger
Graysville, AL 35073 86%633$54,886$117,100$103 smaller · newer homes

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.