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 Sarver, PA 16055

Sarver: median income $90,950, home value $315,300, $169/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grass Lake, MI 49240 96%254$99,681$298,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Grass, IA 52726 95%575$104,250$276,100$168 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Troutville, VA 24175 94%229$82,314$302,200$167 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia Station, OH 44028 93%122$87,595$331,700$204 Very close on everything we compare
Lambertville, MI 48144 93%214$101,410$270,000$160 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Manchester, MI 48158 92%244$94,784$312,200$190 6 min longer commute
Williamston, MI 48895 92%272$93,418$294,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Winneconne, WI 54986 92%514$93,189$300,900$228 smaller
Millstadt, IL 62260 92%572$91,039$252,500$174 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Knoxville, TN 37938 91%391$84,135$322,500$205 larger · newer homes
Thornville, OH 43076 91%151$91,085$300,500$227 Very close on everything we compare
West Harrison, IN 47060 91%289$86,118$299,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Fremont, WI 54940 91%523$90,813$307,100$208 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73150 91%1,022$92,318$313,500$164 smaller
Holden, ME 04429 90%628$97,244$313,600$191 smaller
Wiscasset, ME 04578 90%561$81,063$327,400$234 smaller
Waynesville, OH 45068 90%243$96,147$335,600$204 younger residents
Temperance, MI 48182 90%212$84,375$254,400$174 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Hartland, MI 48353 90%244$105,964$313,700$192 Very close on everything we compare
Amherst, WI 54406 90%549$77,533$284,800$186 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Freeburg, IL 62243 90%565$103,342$279,500$143 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents
Fincastle, VA 24090 89%223$90,521$286,900$136 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Abingdon, VA 24211 89%304$85,747$306,600$176 Very close on everything we compare
Advance, NC 27006 89%328$96,580$334,600$191 larger · newer homes
Satsuma, AL 36572 89%825$99,773$220,700$162 cheaper homes ($95K less)

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.