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 Akron, PA 17501

Akron: median income $78,182, home value $258,900, $199/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsfield, NH 03263 92%331$74,318$294,800$241 pricier homes ($36K more)
Belle Fourche, SD 57717 92%1,436$77,689$249,200$180 larger · newer homes
Putnam, CT 06260 90%255$70,502$269,500$221 larger
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 90%254$82,057$231,300$229 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Williamsport, MD 21795 90%94$87,864$295,800$180 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Portage, WI 53901 90%721$74,092$227,700$177 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Tilton, NH 03276 89%330$82,425$272,700$250 larger
Plainfield, CT 06374 89%247$71,882$248,700$194 larger · 5 min longer commute
Lakehurst, NJ 08733 89%100$85,750$248,400$244 smaller · younger residents
Lomira, WI 53048 89%672$74,464$239,700$232 newer homes
Craig, CO 81625 89%1,643$75,812$295,500$190 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Vale, OR 97918 89%2,101$63,342$298,100$219 pricier homes ($39K more)
Three Rivers, MA 01080 88%244$89,063$270,000$195 smaller · older homes
Lisbon, ME 04250 88%411$84,028$257,700$200 Very close on everything we compare
Perryville, MD 21903 88%42$78,962$299,300$207 pricier homes ($40K more)
Riverview, MI 48193 88%392$74,566$220,600$169 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Watertown, WI 53098 88%680$74,431$253,600$216 larger
Woodville, WI 54028 88%881$85,341$269,300$211 smaller · newer homes
Delaware City, DE 19706 87%52$83,681$263,000$218 smaller
Saukville, WI 53080 87%645$80,360$313,500$234 pricier homes ($55K more)
Walworth, WI 53184 87%663$84,413$315,100$224 pricier homes ($56K more)
Newport, MN 55055 87%913$71,979$378,100$245 pricier homes ($119K more)
Sidney, MT 59270 87%1,476$72,630$267,600$133 larger
Brush, CO 80723 87%1,441$75,691$306,500$167 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Willows, CA 95988 87%2,416$66,339$297,200$241 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger

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.