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 Harrisburg, PA 17102

Harrisburg: median income $54,573, home value $193,700, $118/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Albany, NY 12210 88%231$55,843$228,100$142 pricier homes ($34K more)
Albany, NY 12202 83%230$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63103 81%719$40,943$202,900$124 more renters
Detroit, MI 48202 80%352$43,627$186,500$123 larger · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53212 76%600$47,298$216,300$145 larger · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63112 76%722$45,542$212,700$135 larger · more single-family homes
Schenectady, NY 12305 75%233$53,326$217,500$213 more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45206 75%411$62,648$271,700$213 pricier homes ($78K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63101 75%718$66,678$223,200$181 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44106 74%261$43,170$255,700$144 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14213 73%210$53,870$211,200$116 larger · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 72%80$52,810$199,900$143 larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63104 72%720$68,764$268,900$161 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · more homeowners
Troy, NY 12183 71%238$59,406$138,300$110 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Albany, NY 12206 70%231$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21218 70%67$62,488$242,500$161 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Milwaukee, WI 53208 70%602$52,690$204,500$125 larger · more single-family homes
Lafayette, IN 47901 69%526$47,206$256,500$144 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48216 69%351$44,335$242,600$106 pricier homes ($49K more) · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14209 68%209$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($236K more) · older residents
Detroit, MI 48207 68%349$47,831$211,600$123 larger · older residents · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63118 68%721$57,762$221,200$131 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more homeowners
Omaha, NE 68131 68%998$48,925$227,200$161 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74119 68%1,073$56,234$251,700$125 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · older residents
Rochester, NY 14607 67%202$59,787$350,100$171 pricier homes ($156K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute

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.