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 Smicksburg, PA 16256

Smicksburg: median income $60,398, home value $155,400, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ballard, WV 24918 89%246$63,594$140,800— smaller · older residents
Murray, IA 50174 85%771$67,250$132,400$122 smaller · older residents
Geneva, IN 46740 84%304$58,484$158,900$125 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Randolph, MS 38864 83%716$54,130$161,500$79 older residents · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Dalton, WI 53926 82%549$62,917$226,700$385 pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Dunnegan, MO 65640 81%797$61,136$171,700$225 older residents
Dorset, OH 44032 80%97$55,188$167,600$120 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Bristow, IN 47515 80%440$71,016$205,700$24 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Medaryville, IN 47957 80%403$61,002$159,400$125 older residents
Bryant, IN 47326 79%302$48,438$157,800$390 older homes
Seymour, IA 52590 79%731$66,833$167,600$58 older residents
Stokes, NC 27884 77%369$64,306$114,700$91 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Xenia, IL 62899 76%526$55,482$147,800$50 older residents · more renters
Atlanta, MO 63530 76%703$72,500$150,600$167 smaller · older residents
Freer, TX 78357 76%1,420$68,000$137,500$74 older residents · more renters
Lovely, KY 41231 75%271$60,875$136,400— smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Hardinsburg, IN 47125 75%414$73,421$169,500$142 older residents
Plato, MO 65552 75%733$63,894$189,000$118 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Danville, OH 43014 74%165$66,481$220,900$112 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · older residents
Tippecanoe, IN 46570 74%363$54,185$221,300$194 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · older residents
Hughesville, MO 65334 74%757$65,899$183,200$141 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
Hazleton, IA 50641 73%668$67,115$156,000$148 older residents · 12 min shorter commute
Tiplersville, MS 38674 72%671$66,049$85,000$91 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Lockesburg, AR 71846 72%948$56,250$124,700$162 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Conewango Valley, NY 14726 71%99$55,156$98,900$127 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 11 min shorter commute

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.