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 Julian, PA 16844

Julian: median income $85,147, home value $228,300, $113/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dawson, IL 62520 98%611$84,500$226,400$101 smaller
Converse, IN 46919 94%416$83,664$193,300$153 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783 93%834$82,421$267,000$157 pricier homes ($39K more)
Oak Ridge, MO 63769 93%673$91,146$195,800$146 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Belmont, OH 43718 92%172$92,576$228,000$146 Very close on everything we compare
Cloverdale, OH 45827 92%332$85,400$203,300$88 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Solsberry, IN 47459 92%482$76,061$244,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
North Troy, VT 05859 91%394$84,813$232,200$141 Very close on everything we compare
Vincent, OH 45784 91%225$82,713$229,800$183 Very close on everything we compare
Silver Lake, IN 46982 91%415$79,688$190,400$137 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Boyne Falls, MI 49713 91%461$82,563$244,000$153 Very close on everything we compare
Bark River, MI 49807 91%572$75,329$178,800$135 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Ettrick, WI 54627 91%715$77,212$223,800$93 Very close on everything we compare
Liberty, IL 62347 91%695$93,810$225,900$103 Very close on everything we compare
Burneyville, OK 73430 91%1,164$79,091$165,300$107 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Williamstown, VT 05679 90%354$94,082$238,900$149 Very close on everything we compare
Rockfield, KY 42274 90%540$80,704$182,100$152 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Glendale, KY 42740 90%482$88,066$238,900$105 more renters
Shellsburg, IA 52332 90%725$92,708$198,000$155 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Arpin, WI 54410 90%663$84,135$213,200— Very close on everything we compare
Edgar, WI 54426 90%670$78,942$218,200$116 larger
Genoa, WI 54632 90%700$82,500$236,100— smaller
Jane Lew, WV 26378 89%181$71,546$172,900$136 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Union Grove, AL 35175 89%646$74,600$199,300$170 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Chatom, AL 36518 89%867$87,768$168,500$131 cheaper homes ($60K less)

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.