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 Spring Grove, PA 17362

Spring Grove: median income $98,702, home value $292,100, $179/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elmer, NJ 08318 97%93$92,558$302,000$198 Very close on everything we compare
Rockwood, MI 48173 96%364$94,094$244,900$165 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Amherst, OH 44001 95%300$90,139$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Springfield, OH 45502 95%367$88,988$243,600$183 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Plattsmouth, NE 68048 95%1,002$89,931$261,600$162 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Brooklyn, CT 06234 94%290$96,207$315,200$243 smaller
Thurmont, MD 21788 94%33$98,856$379,200$208 pricier homes ($87K more)
Saint Clair, MI 48079 94%357$79,891$293,000$179 Very close on everything we compare
Temperance, MI 48182 94%374$84,375$254,400$174 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Milton, WI 53563 94%658$89,528$293,800$229 Very close on everything we compare
Stafford Springs, CT 06076 93%280$92,016$267,300$219 Very close on everything we compare
Seville, OH 44273 93%274$96,431$275,400$216 smaller
Hartville, OH 44632 93%246$91,061$267,500$199 Very close on everything we compare
Grass Lake, MI 49240 93%416$99,681$298,700$193 smaller
Glenwood, IA 51534 93%993$93,646$246,600$177 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
High Ridge, MO 63049 93%737$92,333$224,700$175 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Paola, KS 66071 93%967$84,142$262,500$172 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Boonsboro, MD 21713 92%48$96,199$369,200$207 pricier homes ($77K more) · 5 min longer commute
Sparta, MI 49345 92%509$85,463$274,200$203 Very close on everything we compare
Campbellsport, WI 53010 92%641$95,391$307,000$235 smaller
Poynette, WI 53955 92%692$101,134$332,000$201 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Cannon Falls, MN 55009 92%877$91,295$331,300$208 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Alden, NY 14004 91%227$90,839$258,300$224 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Smithsburg, MD 21783 91%40$100,750$339,800$174 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min longer commute
Troutville, VA 24175 91%235$82,314$302,200$167 smaller

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.