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 Bethlehem, PA 16242

New Bethlehem: median income $55,677, home value $134,700, $79/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eureka, KS 67045 94%929$62,629$110,100$80 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge City, IN 47327 92%317$68,088$124,700$84 Very close on everything we compare
Oelwein, IA 50662 92%656$48,646$107,700$68 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 92%555$62,250$106,700$82 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Chester, WV 26034 91%69$56,556$138,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, OH 43912 91%98$55,668$121,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Mingo Junction, OH 43938 91%82$55,446$101,300$70 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Clinton, IN 47842 91%435$56,750$119,400$109 larger
Henry, IL 61537 91%522$67,404$118,200$81 smaller
East Alton, IL 62024 91%587$56,761$126,500$102 larger
Fullerton, NE 68638 91%967$56,917$144,500$96 smaller
Whitehall, NY 12887 90%352$56,709$123,400$97 younger residents
Oakland City, IN 47660 90%463$57,472$146,300$107 newer homes
Ackley, IA 50601 90%714$66,250$127,200$86 smaller
Bedford, IA 50833 90%803$61,042$112,900$69 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
North English, IA 52316 90%662$60,768$150,600$94 smaller
Stockton, IL 61085 90%558$59,798$131,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Havana, IL 62644 90%563$57,689$102,900$82 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Cisco, TX 76437 90%1,236$60,923$117,500$79 6 min longer commute
Ballinger, TX 76821 90%1,308$63,380$112,900$94 Very close on everything we compare
Bluefield, VA 24605 89%279$52,653$137,200$105 larger · newer homes
Wellsburg, WV 26070 89%83$52,359$143,500$92 larger
Fowler, IN 47944 89%417$55,242$131,400$120 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Madison, IA 52627 89%627$56,401$116,500$85 larger
Wenona, IL 61377 89%505$57,321$139,500$86 smaller

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.