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 South Fork, PA 15956

South Fork: median income $52,448, home value $87,700, $62/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eldon, IA 52554 92%705$55,769$82,400— smaller
Wakefield, MI 49968 87%700$55,759$91,800$97 newer homes
Red Cloud, NE 68970 86%1,039$58,523$95,000$55 smaller · more renters
Sheldon, IL 60966 84%462$46,944$85,200$63 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Yates Center, KS 66783 84%923$48,068$91,400$60 newer homes
Ridgeville, IN 47380 83%329$57,000$99,900$65 newer homes
Exira, IA 50076 83%841$55,313$114,100— pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Galva, IL 61434 83%591$56,780$100,100$69 younger residents
Wilson, KS 67490 83%1,050$67,115$88,800$80 smaller
Humboldt, NE 68376 83%903$52,000$98,600$99 smaller · more renters
Summitville, IN 46070 82%361$57,667$117,300$78 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Dunkirk, IN 47336 82%339$50,633$97,800$84 newer homes
Bessemer, MI 49911 82%705$57,000$106,300$87 5 min shorter commute
Christopher, IL 62822 82%574$47,770$67,600$52 more renters · newer homes
Fairfax, OK 74637 82%1,002$52,829$67,500$66 smaller · newer homes
Russell, IA 50238 81%755$59,625$83,300$68 smaller · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Bushnell, IL 61422 81%616$68,207$78,400$76 more renters
White Hall, IL 62092 81%619$56,607$69,100$95 younger residents
Wymore, NE 68466 81%941$61,574$87,300$80 younger residents
Belmont, NY 14813 80%135$63,750$94,300$71 newer homes
Oelwein, IA 50662 80%697$48,646$107,700$68 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Bedford, IA 50833 80%837$61,042$112,900$69 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents · more renters
Laurens, IA 50554 79%846$63,802$82,800$68 younger residents · more renters · newer homes
Roodhouse, IL 62082 79%615$62,875$76,700$40 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Waverly, IL 62692 79%593$66,143$123,100$85 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer 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.