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 Lock Haven, PA 17745

Lock Haven: median income $58,555, home value $177,100, $120/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clinton, SC 29325 94%520$60,259$177,400$126 newer homes
Mishawaka, IN 46544 94%453$58,829$172,200$144 larger
Flint, MI 48532 94%351$61,998$169,200$109 Very close on everything we compare
Kalamazoo, MI 49048 94%424$60,454$177,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Southgate, MI 48195 93%306$66,118$173,600$145 larger
Frostburg, MD 21532 92%129$63,690$182,400$114 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44709 92%207$57,842$161,200$144 older residents
Elkhart, IN 46516 92%443$56,492$153,400$147 larger
Vincennes, IN 47591 92%560$61,803$157,400$106 Very close on everything we compare
Pontiac, MI 48341 92%318$51,390$150,500$119 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Davenport, IA 52804 92%683$65,849$156,800$143 larger
Rockford, IL 61108 92%602$64,415$144,800$133 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
East Moline, IL 61244 92%674$63,819$139,400$129 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Kansas City, MO 64138 92%912$58,638$188,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Temple, TX 76501 92%1,305$62,532$172,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Chattanooga, TN 37412 91%599$62,508$209,900$175 pricier homes ($33K more)
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 91%210$63,342$167,300$170 larger
Canton, OH 44714 91%205$55,905$149,500$138 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Springfield, OH 45503 91%343$59,595$168,200$154 larger
Shelbyville, IN 46176 91%454$65,182$194,400$137 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46229 91%458$61,388$191,100$137 larger · newer homes
Hammond, IN 46323 91%520$59,688$166,400$138 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47714 91%580$55,910$133,400$109 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Warren, MI 48091 91%303$54,230$149,800$122 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Essexville, MI 48732 91%367$57,903$169,600$133 smaller · older residents

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.