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 Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Mechanicsburg: median income $113,720, home value $372,900, $192/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glen Allen, VA 23060 97%178$104,468$409,900$224 pricier homes ($37K more)
Dayton, OH 45458 96%381$110,150$362,700$175 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55125 96%871$119,260$416,100$192 pricier homes ($43K more)
Osseo, MN 55369 96%899$112,144$376,400$205 Very close on everything we compare
West Chester, OH 45069 95%396$114,631$345,000$192 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Williamsburg, VA 23185 94%204$105,431$429,500$220 pricier homes ($57K more)
Franklin, WI 53132 94%597$109,850$367,500$223 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, MO 63303 94%727$99,138$321,100$163 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Greer, SC 29650 93%466$94,522$342,500$192 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Canton, MI 48188 93%364$122,781$384,700$192 6 min longer commute
Hudson, WI 54016 93%862$113,085$452,000$224 pricier homes ($79K more)
Lees Summit, MO 64064 93%925$117,674$389,000$184 smaller
Midlothian, VA 23114 92%192$112,738$409,100$220 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35244 92%719$113,450$412,000$176 pricier homes ($39K more)
Maineville, OH 45039 92%388$108,794$327,200$196 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Waunakee, WI 53597 92%672$117,000$493,200$243 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55127 92%881$117,917$433,200$223 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Chaska, MN 55318 92%900$112,243$420,400$211 pricier homes ($48K more)
Olathe, KS 66061 92%951$110,176$360,500$210 larger
Papillion, NE 68046 92%996$116,907$360,000$179 more single-family homes
Greensboro, NC 27455 91%317$94,349$341,500$191 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Matthews, NC 28105 91%406$108,190$430,800$234 pricier homes ($58K more)
Madison, AL 35758 91%654$117,380$370,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40241 91%476$94,078$373,900$172 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40245 91%472$122,948$445,300$182 pricier homes ($72K more)

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.