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 Lykens, PA 17048

Lykens: median income $73,993, home value $144,200, $83/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Medina, NY 14103 86%201$69,926$144,700$118 larger
Monona, IA 52159 86%774$74,259$165,400$110 smaller
Mount Morris, NY 14510 85%156$61,713$104,700$94 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Waterville, NY 13480 84%176$85,435$179,200$115 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Perry, NY 14530 83%162$64,576$134,900$92 9 min shorter commute
Clarence, IA 52216 83%750$67,857$191,900$102 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Antwerp, NY 13608 82%258$73,643$111,600$101 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · newer homes
Nunda, NY 14517 82%151$56,088$150,000$112 smaller
Little Falls, NY 13365 81%195$66,307$130,500$110 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Oakfield, NY 14125 81%189$70,294$161,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Silver Creek, NY 14136 81%185$69,567$151,500$118 more homeowners
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 81%778$72,857$150,700$95 smaller · newer homes
Whitehall, NY 12887 80%266$56,709$123,400$97 newer homes
Rushville, IN 46173 80%466$67,456$162,000$125 larger · newer homes
Ashton, IL 61006 80%655$75,938$155,500$107 smaller · less walkable
Barry, IL 62312 80%758$68,571$98,300$105 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Canajoharie, NY 13317 79%191$72,500$139,400$123 younger residents · more homeowners
Edmeston, NY 13335 78%164$65,000$125,900$96 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Fayette, OH 43521 78%403$60,550$120,500$136 smaller · newer homes
Kentland, IN 47951 78%562$66,156$115,600$107 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Morenci, MI 49256 78%399$62,880$129,400$98 more single-family homes · newer homes
Eldora, IA 50627 78%856$74,536$131,600$70 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Dwight, IL 60420 78%613$71,157$167,100$151 newer homes
Polo, IL 61064 78%676$75,386$164,400$79 older residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Ilion, NY 13357 77%187$63,678$115,600$89 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents

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.