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 Johnstown, PA 15901

Johnstown: median income $27,121, home value $20,800, $28/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jackson, MS 39203 41%836$26,569$53,000$29 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44127 39%163$32,572$44,400$29 younger residents · 11 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Youngstown, OH 44507 39%105$29,176$25,900$30 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 39%609$27,437$60,000$49 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63115 35%614$30,622$75,600$29 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · younger residents
Youngstown, OH 44506 33%104$21,018$23,000$70 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44110 32%163$31,928$60,900$61 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · younger residents
Gary, IN 46407 32%448$28,526$60,200$48 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
Peoria, IL 61605 32%563$26,392$47,400$34 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
Topeka, KS 66607 32%893$29,797$46,400$61 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Shreveport, LA 71101 32%984$19,351$84,900$50 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44103 31%164$27,047$80,500$47 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63113 31%615$39,913$81,600$48 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Flint, MI 48505 30%311$33,283$31,700$27 larger · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63120 30%615$35,176$53,500$44 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
East Saint Louis, IL 62205 29%609$45,672$41,800$32 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63107 29%613$43,625$64,400$49 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35204 28%642$35,420$89,300$42 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44112 28%162$28,799$81,300$71 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · younger residents
Muncie, IN 47305 28%341$36,389$77,800$71 pricier homes ($57K more) · younger residents
East Saint Louis, IL 62207 28%610$29,845$58,200$25 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · younger residents
Saginaw, MI 48607 27%336$37,973$73,800$21 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · younger residents
East Saint Louis, IL 62204 27%607$35,346$47,800— pricier homes ($27K more) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48204 26%261$34,468$59,200$55 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48213 26%255$34,003$56,200$42 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 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.