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 Saint Marys, PA 15857

Saint Marys: median income $67,662, home value $150,100, $161/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Manistee, MI 49660 94%433$65,205$192,800$157 pricier homes ($43K more)
Iron Mountain, MI 49801 94%564$67,337$168,700$125 Very close on everything we compare
Tupper Lake, NY 12986 93%282$67,883$158,900$164 smaller
Houlton, ME 04730 91%623$61,980$145,200$128 younger residents
Marinette, WI 54143 91%523$64,491$142,900$138 younger residents
Hubbard, OH 44425 90%107$61,568$145,200$155 7 min longer commute
Manchester, IA 52057 90%666$69,635$184,300$142 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · younger residents
International Falls, MN 56649 90%876$64,736$153,600$103 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, IL 61356 90%563$68,243$152,900$128 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 89%116$64,904$167,800$156 smaller
Van Wert, OH 45891 89%317$64,272$152,100$133 younger residents
Peru, IL 61354 89%548$76,392$158,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Caribou, ME 04736 88%642$54,368$139,000$139 Very close on everything we compare
Bryan, OH 43506 88%311$60,234$162,000$132 younger residents
Menominee, MI 49858 88%523$53,186$134,400$131 Very close on everything we compare
Iron River, MI 49935 88%597$57,236$111,500$139 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Garner, IA 50438 88%777$70,350$197,600$153 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Albert Lea, MN 56007 88%769$68,846$166,900$131 larger · younger residents
Caldwell, OH 43724 87%194$64,688$170,400$145 7 min longer commute
Alpena, MI 49707 87%353$51,396$153,700$122 larger
Waukon, IA 52172 87%672$68,875$166,100$115 smaller · younger residents
Two Rivers, WI 54241 87%495$61,014$156,300$146 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Rushville, IL 62681 87%634$65,889$111,900$134 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Macon, MO 63552 87%738$65,210$163,800$123 smaller
Ogallala, NE 69153 87%1,199$61,946$163,000$111 smaller

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.