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 15902

Johnstown: median income $44,215, home value $65,100, $56/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elmira, NY 14904 85%163$53,174$92,200$86 pricier homes ($27K more)
Saginaw, MI 48602 83%338$46,984$73,600$75 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Salamanca, NY 14779 82%128$42,593$85,900$104 smaller
Elmira, NY 14901 82%165$40,989$93,800$65 pricier homes ($29K more) · more renters
Huntington, WV 25702 82%227$40,708$82,900$76 smaller
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 82%98$45,923$103,600$82 pricier homes ($39K more)
Kewanee, IL 61443 81%580$52,615$79,600$69 more single-family homes
Dunkirk, NY 14048 79%152$56,431$104,000$83 pricier homes ($39K more)
Toledo, OH 43610 79%261$46,469$71,500$46 smaller · more walkable
Youngstown, OH 44509 79%109$36,570$57,900$84 more single-family homes
Ecorse, MI 48229 79%258$40,264$65,400$90 younger residents
Louisiana, MO 63353 79%648$46,875$95,700$72 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · newer homes
Wichita Falls, TX 76301 79%1,164$41,947$74,800$78 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Hornell, NY 14843 78%154$57,874$112,100$76 pricier homes ($47K more)
Highland Park, MI 48203 78%262$38,404$76,200$70 larger · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Danville, IL 61832 78%460$47,332$82,400$91 larger
Marion, IN 46953 77%356$46,288$89,200$72 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Saginaw, MI 48601 76%335$38,900$62,800$79 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Waterloo, IA 50703 76%712$50,060$95,900$84 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Galesburg, IL 61401 76%603$50,546$100,600$91 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 76%480$53,622$100,600$82 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · newer homes
Arkansas City, KS 67005 76%1,002$54,516$95,400$87 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Olean, NY 14760 75%125$54,929$94,600$96 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Springfield, OH 45506 75%262$42,104$107,300$102 pricier homes ($42K more)
Hutchinson, KS 67501 75%1,029$50,859$86,000$90 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes

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.