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.

Reset

Towns most like Butler, PA 16001

Butler: median income $63,635, home value $199,100, $156/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Michigan City, IN 46360 95%364$59,266$167,300$157 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Mount Vernon, OH 43050 94%138$64,108$220,300$168 Very close on everything we compare
Youngstown, OH 44512 94%40$63,317$170,700$137 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Massillon, OH 44646 94%82$69,179$196,400$161 Very close on everything we compare
New Philadelphia, OH 44663 94%83$61,551$180,100$172 smaller
Adrian, MI 49221 94%224$65,977$170,400$134 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Manitowoc, WI 54220 94%453$66,035$176,300$160 6 min shorter commute
Torrington, CT 06790 93%359$70,912$215,600$191 Very close on everything we compare
Wheeling, WV 26003 93%66$57,703$166,100$132 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Barberton, OH 44203 93%89$63,759$159,700$165 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Beaver Dam, WI 53916 93%489$71,188$220,300$190 smaller
Lockport, NY 14094 92%170$75,427$197,200$179 Very close on everything we compare
Bristol, TN 37620 92%322$56,128$188,800$163 newer homes
Salem, OH 44460 92%48$57,423$163,500$145 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080 92%188$66,986$199,900$154 smaller
Warren, MI 48093 92%194$68,218$212,100$130 smaller
Monroe, MI 48161 92%196$67,414$176,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, MI 48162 92%196$67,876$200,200$162 Very close on everything we compare
Southgate, MI 48195 92%192$66,118$173,600$145 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Waterford, MI 48328 92%214$72,299$222,900$195 smaller
Newton, IA 50208 92%682$62,306$168,900$169 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
North Tonawanda, NY 14120 91%160$74,871$222,500$215 Very close on everything we compare
Fairmont, WV 26554 91%97$69,712$183,900$151 younger residents
Newark, OH 43055 91%141$63,974$203,100$172 larger · younger residents
Ravenna, OH 44266 91%70$64,918$172,300$162 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 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.