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 Altoona, PA 16601

Altoona: median income $58,070, home value $147,200, $88/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clarksburg, WV 26301 95%133$49,816$133,300$107 Very close on everything we compare
Rock Island, IL 61201 94%637$59,396$125,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Alton, IL 62002 92%634$61,414$118,900$107 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Evansville, IN 47714 91%519$55,910$133,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49203 91%333$56,201$159,100$133 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, MD 21502 90%68$60,725$153,700$113 Very close on everything we compare
Parkersburg, WV 26101 90%187$48,710$117,500$105 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Vincennes, IN 47591 90%501$61,803$157,400$106 newer homes
Ottumwa, IA 52501 90%733$63,426$122,700$121 Very close on everything we compare
Moline, IL 61265 90%633$66,933$147,000$131 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, IL 62650 90%626$65,762$141,300$90 newer homes
Winfield, KS 67156 90%1,022$58,821$153,300$90 smaller · newer homes
Fremont, OH 43420 89%252$61,331$152,900$137 Very close on everything we compare
Kokomo, IN 46901 89%406$60,495$142,100$123 newer homes
Logansport, IN 46947 89%417$54,791$126,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, IN 47374 89%346$50,766$130,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, IA 52732 89%620$61,105$122,100$95 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more walkable
La Salle, IL 61301 89%560$60,328$129,000$104 smaller
Galesburg, IL 61401 89%626$50,546$100,600$91 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Mattoon, IL 61938 89%532$57,503$111,700$107 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Marion, IN 46952 88%381$52,880$146,700$111 smaller · newer homes
Peru, IN 46970 88%402$57,842$118,700$88 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Bay City, MI 48708 88%351$50,518$107,700$104 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Waterloo, IA 50702 88%732$62,021$150,500$123 smaller
Keokuk, IA 52632 88%682$56,653$118,700$79 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 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.