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 Grove City, PA 16127

Grove City: median income $72,429, home value $213,700, $191/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kalamazoo, MI 49004 95%294$73,453$192,300$159 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35210 93%638$73,061$255,800$191 pricier homes ($42K more)
Berea, OH 44017 93%93$75,231$198,400$170 Very close on everything we compare
Oberlin, OH 44074 93%112$80,801$234,200$151 Very close on everything we compare
Portage, MI 49002 91%292$73,647$246,400$174 pricier homes ($33K more)
Green Bay, WI 54301 91%463$78,684$225,600$175 older residents
Troy, OH 45373 90%230$75,742$253,400$168 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Viroqua, WI 54665 90%576$72,093$228,200$193 smaller · older residents
Gering, NE 69341 90%1,217$73,638$185,700$194 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Delhi, NY 13753 89%277$70,000$216,200$160 smaller
Alcoa, TN 37701 89%427$66,132$281,100$252 pricier homes ($67K more)
Lebanon, IN 46052 89%343$68,930$221,900$178 larger
South Bend, IN 46614 89%321$74,153$187,500$145 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
South Bend, IN 46637 89%321$71,462$207,100$154 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, MI 48092 89%180$73,808$220,400$156 larger · older residents
Muskegon, MI 49441 89%347$67,427$213,500$169 larger
Waverly, IA 50677 89%642$85,633$232,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
Sheboygan, WI 53083 89%432$75,203$244,800$188 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · newer homes
Casper, WY 82601 89%1,346$67,642$249,100$174 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Fairmont, WV 26554 88%115$69,712$183,900$151 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Spartanburg, SC 29302 88%443$80,819$285,400$156 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 88%421$72,269$270,900$191 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Erlanger, KY 41018 88%281$68,605$192,100$199 larger
Dayton, OH 45432 88%232$83,115$183,300$168 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46835 88%259$77,152$210,100$161 larger · 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.