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 Penfield, PA 15849

Penfield: median income $60,096, home value $108,200, $182/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alum Creek, WV 25003 96%265$64,631$114,900— Very close on everything we compare
Hermansville, MI 49847 96%550$66,250$115,800$200 Very close on everything we compare
Noble, IL 62868 96%539$61,645$116,300— Very close on everything we compare
Gerry, NY 14740 93%76$64,853$126,000$162 Very close on everything we compare
Farmington, IA 52626 93%688$59,342$105,600$160 Very close on everything we compare
Braymer, MO 64624 93%807$58,095$95,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Quincy, OH 43343 91%289$63,438$156,900$167 pricier homes ($49K more)
Twining, MI 48766 91%335$56,583$112,200$121 Very close on everything we compare
Prentice, WI 54556 91%659$54,375$144,800$147 pricier homes ($37K more)
Kinston, AL 36453 90%810$54,485$108,900— larger
Noxapater, MS 39346 90%812$62,439$99,600— Very close on everything we compare
Athens, MI 49011 90%349$59,722$158,600$139 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Bismarck, IL 61814 90%477$59,408$111,200$129 Very close on everything we compare
Queen City, MO 63561 90%733$56,563$134,200$132 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hale, MO 64643 90%784$56,688$113,000$141 6 min longer commute
Helena, OK 73741 90%1,105$62,083$110,800— 6 min shorter commute
Brookneal, VA 24528 89%286$58,343$140,000$204 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Jonesville, SC 29353 89%472$64,494$116,800$152 larger
Adairville, KY 42202 89%543$62,656$139,400$142 pricier homes ($31K more)
Peck, MI 48466 89%259$59,241$151,000$148 pricier homes ($43K more)
Gillett, WI 54124 89%554$60,703$143,400$174 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Perry, MO 63462 89%700$51,205$156,700$170 pricier homes ($49K more)
Richland, NY 13144 88%210$64,073$106,700$165 younger residents
Mc Donough, NY 13801 88%170$69,375$129,300$249 Very close on everything we compare
Cassadaga, NY 14718 88%87$56,250$98,000$154 Very close on everything we compare

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.