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 Philipsburg, PA 16866

Philipsburg: median income $49,968, home value $150,300, $125/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Anderson, IN 46013 96%396$49,310$149,200$132 larger
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 94%268$52,161$179,400$124 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Skowhegan, ME 04976 93%508$53,534$165,000$158 Very close on everything we compare
Maysville, KY 41056 93%335$47,141$164,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Essexville, MI 48732 93%343$57,903$169,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Weston, WV 26452 92%175$51,695$128,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Wayne, MI 48184 92%283$59,171$158,000$124 larger
Binghamton, NY 13904 91%149$53,984$121,100$106 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Altavista, VA 24517 91%266$53,201$145,200$151 smaller
Elkin, NC 28621 91%348$53,616$159,000$171 Very close on everything we compare
Coshocton, OH 43812 91%196$52,904$151,700$139 larger
Mansfield, OH 44907 91%225$48,008$144,800$142 larger · more renters
Dayton, OH 45426 91%330$51,908$123,900$113 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
South Charleston, WV 25309 90%254$57,937$158,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Roxboro, NC 27573 90%312$45,736$175,000$167 Very close on everything we compare
Lake City, SC 29560 90%492$46,601$125,900$112 newer homes
Center Line, MI 48015 90%271$54,703$156,600$142 more renters
Park Hills, MO 63601 90%687$54,753$126,300$130 larger · younger residents
Little Rock, AR 72206 90%878$52,132$142,000$120 larger
Pawhuska, OK 74056 90%1,014$47,311$131,000$106 smaller
Vinita, OK 74301 90%956$52,211$144,100$129 Very close on everything we compare
Mexia, TX 76667 90%1,197$52,541$154,700$133 newer homes
Raton, NM 87740 90%1,431$52,815$153,100$114 6 min shorter commute
Albion, NY 14411 89%163$55,641$114,700$121 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Newark, NY 14513 89%160$65,309$150,300$121 Very close on everything we compare

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.