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.

Reset

Towns most like Rural Valley, PA 16249

Rural Valley: median income $68,214, home value $164,400, $100/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sycamore, OH 44882 94%201$73,529$164,000$116 Very close on everything we compare
West Union, WV 26456 93%131$58,000$164,400— larger
Francisco, IN 47649 93%466$63,060$160,800$129 Very close on everything we compare
Ridgeland, WI 54763 93%704$65,417$160,200$88 smaller
Amboy, IL 61310 93%526$69,756$165,800$113 larger
Francesville, IN 47946 92%395$79,457$162,500$120 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Grove, MN 55974 92%659$59,205$186,300$104 Very close on everything we compare
North Benton, OH 44449 91%91$62,188$163,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Lacon, IL 61540 91%527$78,824$154,400$87 larger · younger residents
Clarksville, MO 63336 91%623$71,875$162,500$107 smaller
Yorktown, TX 78164 91%1,311$67,578$171,300$101 larger · younger residents
Amsterdam, OH 43903 90%90$73,281$135,500$99 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Bowerston, OH 44695 90%102$75,051$215,700$93 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Le Roy, MN 55951 90%702$61,131$168,800$115 younger residents
Franklin Grove, IL 61031 90%525$75,446$136,700$108 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912 89%381$70,046$189,200$121 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomingdale, MI 49026 89%361$68,203$161,400$96 newer homes
Ossineke, MI 49766 89%354$61,346$161,800$100 Very close on everything we compare
Avoca, WI 53506 89%587$59,861$171,500$129 smaller
Hixton, WI 54635 89%647$72,566$209,100$110 pricier homes ($45K more)
Twin Valley, MN 56584 89%950$69,625$131,600$85 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Windsor, IL 61957 89%499$75,583$141,900$88 7 min shorter commute
Bradner, OH 43406 88%219$71,597$161,200$129 younger residents
Lore City, OH 43755 88%124$68,581$166,700$89 younger residents · newer homes
Oakley, MI 48649 88%300$72,609$164,200$117 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.