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.

Reset

Towns most like Lebanon, PA 17046

Lebanon: median income $62,221, home value $191,000, $167/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, OH 45503 91%389$59,595$168,200$154 Very close on everything we compare
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 91%658$63,144$180,200$169 Very close on everything we compare
Claremont, NH 03743 90%295$59,625$206,600$190 smaller
Torrington, CT 06790 90%199$70,912$215,600$191 Very close on everything we compare
Batavia, NY 14020 90%202$62,655$160,800$147 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Millville, NJ 08332 89%102$67,496$214,200$192 Very close on everything we compare
Vineland, NJ 08360 89%98$65,359$221,900$198 pricier homes ($31K more) · more single-family homes
Hudson Falls, NY 12839 89%251$71,423$173,000$209 smaller
Elkhart, IN 46517 89%505$56,772$177,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton Township, MI 48035 89%367$73,015$192,000$160 Very close on everything we compare
Westland, MI 48185 89%385$60,854$194,000$167 larger
Southgate, MI 48195 89%373$66,118$173,600$145 more single-family homes
Sheboygan, WI 53081 89%623$64,042$180,100$178 6 min shorter commute
Waterville, ME 04901 88%451$57,403$204,700$181 Very close on everything we compare
Rome, NY 13440 88%203$68,207$169,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Elyria, OH 44035 88%304$56,408$160,200$152 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Bedford, OH 44146 88%275$54,925$155,000$146 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Newton, IA 50208 88%869$62,306$168,900$169 smaller · more single-family homes
Green Bay, WI 54303 88%659$60,781$178,600$179 younger residents
Fulton, NY 13069 87%203$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Henderson, KY 42420 87%622$57,053$170,300$142 newer homes
Norwalk, OH 44857 87%328$64,297$175,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Elkhart, IN 46516 87%504$56,492$153,400$147 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents
Madison, IN 47250 87%490$61,284$196,600$163 more single-family homes
Port Huron, MI 48060 87%359$53,018$160,900$136 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 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.