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 Carlisle, PA 17013

Carlisle: median income $71,042, home value $233,300, $179/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lansing, MI 48917 94%421$70,990$222,900$149 Very close on everything we compare
Bangor, ME 04401 93%532$66,932$239,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Meriden, CT 06450 93%246$71,250$242,600$211 Very close on everything we compare
Lakeland, FL 33803 93%887$65,807$250,100$194 Very close on everything we compare
Bismarck, ND 58501 92%1,260$68,755$279,700$161 pricier homes ($46K more)
Pittsfield, MA 01201 91%256$71,093$259,800$211 pricier homes ($27K more) · older homes
Southfield, MI 48075 91%348$65,384$227,000$135 smaller
Green Bay, WI 54304 91%626$63,865$220,600$192 Very close on everything we compare
Waterville, ME 04901 90%488$57,403$204,700$181 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45246 90%392$65,370$205,500$166 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 90%472$70,120$281,600$187 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53220 90%588$69,319$229,300$213 more walkable
Appleton, WI 54914 90%638$79,875$237,400$180 Very close on everything we compare
West Springfield, MA 01089 89%270$69,371$321,500$249 pricier homes ($88K more)
Bristol, CT 06010 89%244$79,314$277,900$229 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Rensselaer, NY 12144 89%244$90,738$249,700$213 smaller
Liverpool, NY 13088 89%205$75,378$174,400$195 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Newark, DE 19713 89%88$76,493$292,600$215 pricier homes ($59K more) · 5 min longer commute
Henrico, VA 23228 89%192$70,260$283,500$235 pricier homes ($50K more)
Newport News, VA 23601 89%224$71,279$243,800$204 more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43231 89%303$73,986$237,000$197 smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45215 89%392$69,372$226,400$180 more single-family homes
Utica, MI 48317 89%345$72,917$265,300$186 pricier homes ($32K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55421 89%879$70,772$277,300$195 pricier homes ($44K more) · more walkable
Amarillo, TX 79109 89%1,389$70,435$222,900$142 more single-family homes

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.