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 Mahaffey, PA 15757

Mahaffey: median income $56,176, home value $105,600, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Salem, IL 62476 95%519$65,543$91,800— Very close on everything we compare
Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935 93%374$57,542$119,000$132 Very close on everything we compare
Sidney Center, NY 13839 93%201$54,271$121,300$161 Very close on everything we compare
Hale, MO 64643 93%775$56,688$113,000$141 younger residents
New Windsor, IL 61465 92%611$56,875$127,400$76 Very close on everything we compare
Palmyra, IL 62674 92%605$55,417$99,600$94 younger residents
Braymer, MO 64624 92%798$58,095$95,500$140 5 min shorter commute
Luther, MI 49656 91%416$56,656$135,500$138 pricier homes ($30K more)
Estancia, NM 87016 91%1,547$55,296$122,100$102 larger
Sistersville, WV 26175 90%150$56,875$118,800$67 larger · younger residents
Saint Regis Falls, NY 12980 89%337$60,938$106,500$110 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Altmar, NY 13302 89%229$55,341$107,300$289 newer homes
Ivanhoe, VA 24350 89%305$54,219$97,400$208 newer homes
Hermansville, MI 49847 89%557$66,250$115,800$200 Very close on everything we compare
Chandlerville, IL 62627 89%601$63,235$84,300$100 older homes
Howland, ME 04448 88%590$54,750$152,000$148 pricier homes ($46K more)
Twining, MI 48766 88%343$56,583$112,200$121 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Barryton, MI 49305 88%383$51,875$148,100$138 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Oakland, IL 61943 88%497$54,196$109,000$71 8 min shorter commute
Laddonia, MO 63352 88%691$54,485$98,000$115 7 min shorter commute
North Anson, ME 04958 87%525$55,089$156,300$177 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Martville, NY 13111 87%197$59,063$107,400$147 younger residents
Francisco, IN 47649 87%496$63,060$160,800$129 pricier homes ($55K more)
Babbitt, MN 55706 87%804$56,750$112,500$91 more single-family homes
Oquawka, IL 61469 87%636$54,932$105,400$78 older residents · 5 min shorter commute

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.