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 New Castle, PA 16105

New Castle: median income $65,855, home value $183,500, $137/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080 96%165$66,986$199,900$154 Very close on everything we compare
Hubbard, OH 44425 94%15$61,568$145,200$155 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Vinton, IA 52349 94%606$71,314$181,200$135 smaller
Warren, OH 44484 93%26$63,630$175,900$133 Very close on everything we compare
Homer, NY 13077 92%242$72,266$171,200$156 smaller
Akron, OH 44319 92%62$79,221$196,600$172 Very close on everything we compare
Two Rivers, WI 54241 92%427$61,014$156,300$146 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Anderson, IN 46011 91%289$76,391$178,700$128 Very close on everything we compare
Wabash, IN 46992 91%287$66,220$159,900$118 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, IL 61356 91%473$68,243$152,900$128 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Belleville, IL 62223 91%542$73,700$159,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Weirton, WV 26062 90%44$60,702$134,700$133 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Vienna, WV 26105 90%133$61,674$161,100$131 younger residents
Evansville, IN 47711 90%435$66,320$167,200$140 larger · younger residents
Manistee, MI 49660 90%371$65,205$192,800$157 6 min shorter commute
Shadyside, OH 43947 89%76$58,269$153,600$130 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Akron, OH 44312 89%57$65,480$152,800$168 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Springfield, OH 45504 89%198$69,960$180,600$151 younger residents
Marietta, OH 45750 89%125$60,229$185,900$133 larger
South Bend, IN 46614 89%309$74,153$187,500$145 larger · younger residents
Monroe, MI 48162 89%172$67,876$200,200$162 larger
Bay City, MI 48706 89%257$62,747$155,800$129 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Marshall, MI 49068 89%253$80,857$214,800$170 pricier homes ($31K more)
Buchanan, MI 49107 89%317$66,289$189,500$144 Very close on everything we compare
Boone, IA 50036 89%703$79,255$194,400$171 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.