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 15906

Johnstown: median income $43,284, home value $57,100, $45/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Christopher, IL 62822 82%566$47,770$67,600$52 smaller
East Saint Louis, IL 62203 80%606$42,111$68,700$46 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Kewanee, IL 61443 79%578$52,615$79,600$69 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery, AL 36105 78%689$41,486$82,400$42 pricier homes ($25K more) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Anniston, AL 36201 78%599$37,614$80,900$40 larger · newer homes
Youngstown, OH 44509 76%106$36,570$57,900$84 Very close on everything we compare
Appalachia, VA 24216 75%314$37,795$53,800$61 smaller · less walkable
East Saint Louis, IL 62204 75%606$35,346$47,800— smaller · more walkable
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 74%96$45,923$103,600$82 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents
East Saint Louis, IL 62205 74%608$45,672$41,800$32 younger residents · more walkable
Mobile, AL 36617 73%841$40,900$75,400$36 more renters · more single-family homes · newer homes
Toledo, OH 43610 73%258$46,469$71,500$46 smaller · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48213 72%253$34,003$56,200$42 larger · younger residents · more walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63147 72%612$41,182$79,000$65 8 min longer commute · more walkable
Benwood, WV 26031 71%98$46,797$78,300$83 smaller
Birmingham, AL 35208 71%645$38,561$97,100$55 pricier homes ($40K more) · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48204 71%259$34,468$59,200$55 larger · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Flint, MI 48504 71%311$38,719$53,500$50 larger · younger residents · more walkable
Saginaw, MI 48602 71%335$46,984$73,600$75 larger · younger residents
Eldorado, IL 62930 71%539$52,931$93,400$63 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · newer homes
Huntington, WV 25702 70%227$40,708$82,900$76 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Ecorse, MI 48229 70%255$40,264$65,400$90 younger residents
Saginaw, MI 48601 70%332$38,900$62,800$79 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Oelwein, IA 50662 70%690$48,646$107,700$68 pricier homes ($51K more) · more homeowners
Davenport, IA 52802 70%614$54,380$93,500$79 pricier homes ($36K more) · 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.