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 Troy, PA 16947

Troy: median income $59,872, home value $176,200, $84/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crisfield, MD 21817 94%267$55,720$161,000$112 Very close on everything we compare
Philippi, WV 26416 93%250$54,741$152,200$113 larger
Ackerman, MS 39735 93%894$51,820$147,600— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Oakland City, IN 47660 93%607$57,472$146,300$107 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Albia, IA 52531 93%831$73,896$162,100$87 Very close on everything we compare
Hamilton, IL 62341 93%764$62,262$136,900$70 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Girard, IL 62640 93%705$66,116$171,800$85 Very close on everything we compare
Cut Off, LA 70345 93%1,136$62,216$164,500$78 larger
Kingwood, WV 26537 92%221$59,844$169,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Lisbon, OH 44432 92%219$61,125$149,900$92 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Sandusky, MI 48471 92%328$62,844$142,700$110 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Chaffee, MO 63740 92%756$54,364$140,700$100 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Wynnewood, OK 73098 92%1,209$55,536$169,500$81 Very close on everything we compare
Nowata, OK 74048 92%1,066$52,888$132,800$103 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Moulton, TX 77975 92%1,413$59,786$184,900$81 smaller
Mulga, AL 35118 91%799$64,375$164,800$76 smaller
Russell, KY 41169 91%386$66,473$162,000$110 Very close on everything we compare
Greenwich, OH 44837 91%302$66,650$168,400$112 Very close on everything we compare
Winamac, IN 46996 91%513$64,167$154,900$122 Very close on everything we compare
Corunna, MI 48817 91%380$55,194$171,700$108 older residents
Reed City, MI 49677 91%466$59,112$142,000$126 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Staunton, IL 62088 91%710$62,808$145,800$111 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Beecher City, IL 62414 91%657$58,370$157,800— smaller
Vandalia, IL 62471 91%677$61,792$135,800$96 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Ellington, MO 63638 91%817$55,257$137,500$76 cheaper homes ($39K 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.