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 16803

State College: median income $73,532, home value $413,700, $195/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blacksburg, VA 24060 88%281$67,675$447,600$237 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Iowa City, IA 52246 88%712$62,521$348,900$176 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Durham, NC 27705 86%336$73,066$455,000$261 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Charlottesville, VA 22903 85%194$69,340$526,200$304 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Columbus, OH 43220 84%277$74,298$473,500$241 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46240 84%438$75,156$348,000$207 cheaper homes ($66K less) · older residents
Bloomington, IN 47401 84%470$66,906$364,600$191 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Madison, WI 53719 84%616$92,052$367,000$242 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Raleigh, NC 27606 83%351$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66210 83%900$95,636$373,200$185 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Amherst, MA 01002 82%300$70,818$481,100$314 pricier homes ($67K more) · older homes
Gainesville, FL 32608 81%814$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 81%316$89,355$406,700$234 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Durham, NC 27707 80%339$74,406$407,800$249 larger
West Des Moines, IA 50266 80%828$87,025$345,600$221 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · newer homes
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 79%318$94,774$503,100$264 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Coralville, IA 52241 79%713$69,243$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27609 78%345$83,065$471,200$311 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents
Houston, TX 77004 78%1,244$71,199$412,800$192 larger · 7 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77025 78%1,249$81,008$586,600$215 pricier homes ($173K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Corvallis, OR 97333 78%2,290$65,191$511,100$351 pricier homes ($97K more)
Richmond, VA 23230 77%223$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35209 77%705$71,439$504,600$311 pricier homes ($91K more) · older homes
Columbus, OH 43235 77%271$86,666$383,500$206 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Iowa City, IA 52245 77%710$78,020$315,100$184 cheaper homes ($99K less) · more homeowners · less walkable

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.