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 Clarion, PA 16214

Clarion: median income $57,521, home value $171,600, $107/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shreveport, LA 71104 91%995$56,833$164,000$97 larger · older homes
Charleston, IL 61920 90%478$52,429$149,200$104 larger
Kirksville, MO 63501 90%695$60,729$168,200$114 larger
Commerce, TX 75428 89%1,060$51,424$162,500$127 Very close on everything we compare
Maryville, MO 64468 88%812$57,251$211,100$122 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Potsdam, NY 13676 87%326$56,170$160,200$147 larger
Kansas City, MO 64137 87%816$66,036$181,700$147 older residents
Topeka, KS 66611 87%874$55,837$156,600$122 older residents · more walkable
Weatherford, OK 73096 86%1,115$59,138$248,600$134 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · newer homes
Emporia, KS 66801 85%911$56,794$152,700$117 larger
Chadron, NE 69337 85%1,213$54,306$163,800— more single-family homes · older homes
Platteville, WI 53818 83%580$55,567$236,700$157 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Stevens Point, WI 54481 83%564$59,545$201,000$168 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Pittsburg, KS 66762 83%860$50,511$145,300$110 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Russellville, AR 72801 83%850$47,830$163,700$129 larger
Canton, NY 13617 82%316$71,663$161,300$131 more homeowners
Fayetteville, NC 28303 82%425$58,223$189,500$142 larger · older residents
Albany, GA 31707 82%718$50,862$133,900$98 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Martin, TN 38237 82%611$51,670$200,900$138 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · less walkable
Vermillion, SD 57069 82%906$53,327$231,200$142 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · younger residents
Junction City, KS 66441 82%933$59,522$169,800$115 larger · newer homes
Wichita Falls, TX 76308 82%1,162$74,772$213,500$131 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Wayne, NE 68787 81%911$60,275$230,700— pricier homes ($59K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Shreveport, LA 71105 81%995$67,968$213,000$120 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Arkadelphia, AR 71923 81%893$56,089$170,600$108 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.