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 Emporium, PA 15834

Emporium: median income $50,609, home value $87,400, $89/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Savanna, IL 61074 97%613$50,691$91,500$84 Very close on everything we compare
Hampton, IA 50441 91%770$49,910$127,100$102 pricier homes ($40K more)
Tilton, IL 61833 91%501$48,584$69,200$101 smaller
Johnston City, IL 62951 91%621$50,657$99,700$97 newer homes
Watseka, IL 60970 90%496$46,688$119,900$85 pricier homes ($33K more)
Mount Morris, IL 61054 90%577$47,467$121,400$103 pricier homes ($34K more)
Kimball, NE 69145 90%1,313$58,846$112,400$92 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Charleston, WV 25315 89%286$55,083$90,200$98 younger residents
Bellaire, OH 43906 89%167$46,380$113,900$83 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Chisholm, MN 55719 88%828$53,647$123,100$106 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Galena, KS 66739 88%928$52,289$83,000$108 younger residents · newer homes
Dunkirk, IN 47336 87%372$50,633$97,800$84 7 min longer commute
Bessemer, MI 49911 87%678$57,000$106,300$87 younger residents
Appleton, MN 56208 87%925$59,766$102,800$114 smaller
Pana, IL 62557 87%589$51,389$88,900$91 larger · younger residents
Kahoka, MO 63445 87%706$48,370$109,100$91 younger residents · newer homes
Hurley, WI 54534 86%683$53,468$123,600$121 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Pittsfield, IL 62363 86%672$58,500$118,000$86 pricier homes ($31K more)
Fairfield, IL 62837 86%577$50,536$103,900$91 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Tarkio, MO 64491 86%895$57,500$91,300$126 smaller
Conklin, NY 13748 85%131$62,125$122,900$121 pricier homes ($36K more)
Sturgis, KY 42459 85%587$51,563$96,600$105 younger residents
Ironwood, MI 49938 85%682$46,606$104,000$106 larger
Audubon, IA 50025 85%859$52,438$118,100$97 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Wheaton, MN 56296 85%956$53,527$103,800$73 smaller · younger residents

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.