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 Milton, PA 17847

Milton: median income $58,775, home value $197,100, $137/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Essexville, MI 48732 98%399$57,903$169,600$133 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Fraser, MI 48026 94%332$64,354$215,900$161 Very close on everything we compare
Skowhegan, ME 04976 93%445$53,534$165,000$158 cheaper homes ($32K less)
South Charleston, WV 25309 93%317$57,937$158,000$130 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Madison, IN 47250 93%480$61,284$196,600$163 larger
Silvis, IL 61282 93%705$64,398$160,100$137 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Willcox, AZ 85643 93%1,911$57,903$173,900$133 newer homes
Grants, NM 87020 93%1,725$62,746$154,400$134 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Carthage, NY 13619 92%214$63,120$178,700$131 Very close on everything we compare
Pulaski, VA 24301 92%345$57,718$173,300$147 more single-family homes
Elkin, NC 28621 92%392$53,616$159,000$171 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Wilkesboro, NC 28697 92%410$52,988$218,500$171 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, SC 29325 92%529$60,259$177,400$126 Very close on everything we compare
Norwalk, OH 44857 92%301$64,297$175,300$155 larger
South Point, OH 45680 92%352$54,523$164,800$129 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Flint, MI 48532 92%383$61,998$169,200$109 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Tomah, WI 54660 92%723$61,186$197,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Globe, AZ 85501 92%1,927$61,983$164,200$137 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Lorain, OH 44053 91%280$67,484$206,300$159 larger
Springfield, OH 45503 91%372$59,595$168,200$154 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Edinburgh, IN 46124 91%495$64,466$184,700$140 smaller · more single-family homes
Kendallville, IN 46755 91%438$66,717$164,100$152 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46819 91%433$63,947$168,100$152 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Gwinn, MI 49841 91%644$60,568$166,800$180 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Mauston, WI 53948 91%701$62,829$182,400$142 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.