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 Williamsport, PA 17702

Williamsport: median income $70,210, home value $196,900, $146/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, OH 45504 97%366$69,960$180,600$151 larger
Boone, IA 50036 95%870$79,255$194,400$171 larger
Manchester, IA 52057 95%745$69,635$184,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
Mayville, WI 53050 95%608$71,985$210,600$170 Very close on everything we compare
Owego, NY 13827 94%76$72,769$156,400$131 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Bellevue, OH 44811 94%302$70,060$172,100$136 Very close on everything we compare
Buchanan, MI 49107 94%484$66,289$189,500$144 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, IA 52353 94%760$63,047$160,500$128 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Monroe, WI 53566 94%654$74,058$220,400$156 Very close on everything we compare
Luverne, MN 56156 94%990$71,066$232,300$133 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Palmyra, NY 14522 93%129$75,116$159,500$165 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Archbold, OH 43502 93%377$74,925$203,300$177 smaller
Battle Creek, MI 49014 93%423$69,009$181,100$166 larger
Battle Creek, MI 49015 93%427$68,821$184,300$140 larger
Webster City, IA 50595 93%866$69,167$153,800$116 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Clintonville, WI 54929 93%637$64,626$167,100$134 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Ripon, WI 54971 93%627$66,699$193,000$189 Very close on everything we compare
Albert Lea, MN 56007 93%848$68,846$166,900$131 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Montevideo, MN 56265 93%973$74,848$162,400$115 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Glendive, MT 59330 93%1,423$70,964$185,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, IL 61356 93%642$68,243$152,900$128 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Beatrice, NE 68310 93%1,031$60,928$168,000$118 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Newark, NY 14513 92%128$65,309$150,300$121 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Penn Yan, NY 14527 92%102$70,758$194,700$210 Very close on everything we compare
Napoleon, OH 43545 92%368$78,548$170,900$151 cheaper homes ($26K less)

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.