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 State College, PA 16801

State College: median income $61,836, home value $414,600, $228/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlottesville, VA 22903 90%194$69,340$526,200$304 pricier homes ($112K more)
Blacksburg, VA 24060 89%281$67,675$447,600$237 pricier homes ($33K more) · less walkable
East Lansing, MI 48823 84%367$52,018$282,600$173 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Missoula, MT 59801 84%1,834$58,347$442,400$345 pricier homes ($28K more)
Wilmington, NC 28403 83%454$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Birmingham, AL 35209 82%706$71,439$504,600$311 pricier homes ($90K more) · older residents
Iowa City, IA 52246 82%714$62,521$348,900$176 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · less walkable
Provo, UT 84604 82%1,765$75,571$582,000$250 pricier homes ($167K more)
Amherst, MA 01002 81%299$70,818$481,100$314 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · less walkable
Durham, NC 27705 81%335$73,066$455,000$261 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Gainesville, FL 32608 81%813$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($56K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Houston, TX 77004 81%1,245$71,199$412,800$192 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Fort Collins, CO 80521 81%1,422$58,082$564,900$378 pricier homes ($150K more) · younger residents
Corvallis, OR 97333 81%2,293$65,191$511,100$351 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43220 80%279$74,298$473,500$241 pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27606 79%351$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Durham, NC 27707 79%339$74,406$407,800$249 older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46202 79%443$63,506$439,200$222 smaller · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Bloomington, IN 47401 77%472$66,906$364,600$191 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Corvallis, OR 97330 77%2,292$70,742$526,800$320 pricier homes ($112K more) · older residents
Richmond, VA 23230 76%222$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
Clemson, SC 29631 76%502$48,800$400,400$214 smaller · less walkable
Bloomington, IN 47408 76%468$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · less walkable
Albuquerque, NM 87106 76%1,609$49,781$354,200$242 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older homes
Carrboro, NC 27510 75%344$61,837$449,700$282 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 6 min longer 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.