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 Transfer, PA 16154

Transfer: median income $57,870, home value $167,000, $106/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ossineke, MI 49766 94%291$61,346$161,800$100 5 min longer commute
Rosebush, MI 48878 93%276$57,656$150,300$92 smaller
Montrose, IA 52639 93%577$68,625$163,800$103 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, MI 48722 90%225$66,473$139,700$131 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Laona, WI 54541 90%506$63,438$193,800$104 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Payson, IL 62360 90%578$54,706$147,500$111 smaller
Cobden, IL 62920 90%538$55,288$153,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Fisk, MO 63940 90%612$53,378$143,800$85 smaller
Corydon, KY 42406 89%460$62,470$187,200$132 Very close on everything we compare
Tawas City, MI 48763 89%258$59,677$162,400$149 larger
Athens, MI 49011 89%254$59,722$158,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Lachine, MI 49753 89%307$57,292$152,800$131 Very close on everything we compare
Center, MO 63436 89%598$56,808$175,500$120 smaller
Frohna, MO 63748 89%553$59,478$177,000$100 smaller
Island Falls, ME 04747 88%687$56,795$120,200$111 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · more renters
Salesville, OH 43778 88%104$65,556$187,500$120 smaller · newer homes
Jacobsburg, OH 43933 88%99$59,881$160,800$109 younger residents
Farwell, MI 48622 88%285$56,804$136,700$135 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Hillman, MI 49746 88%314$47,432$164,400$125 Very close on everything we compare
Park Falls, WI 54552 88%593$61,317$150,700$116 larger · more renters
Port Hope, MI 48468 87%215$63,000$151,100$136 smaller · older residents
Harrisville, MI 48740 87%273$54,393$155,800$133 older residents
Mendon, MI 49072 87%265$63,875$174,700$126 younger residents · older homes
Gilbert, MN 55741 87%728$69,545$164,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Ashby, WV 26719 86%153$54,167$211,600$147 pricier homes ($45K more)

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.