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 Northumberland, PA 17857

Northumberland: median income $67,298, home value $202,200, $126/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mauston, WI 53948 95%706$62,829$182,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, MI 48040 94%324$66,901$208,600$158 Very close on everything we compare
New Holstein, WI 53061 94%613$65,898$194,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Granville, NY 12832 93%247$68,929$153,000$114 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Kingwood, WV 26537 93%183$59,844$169,900$112 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Keyser, WV 26726 93%150$70,944$171,600$131 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Maquoketa, IA 52060 93%722$68,143$158,300$110 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Groton, NY 13073 92%118$71,452$167,600$137 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Allegany, NY 14706 92%121$73,236$176,000$111 cheaper homes ($26K less)
New Martinsville, WV 26155 92%231$64,485$150,500$110 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Caldwell, OH 43724 92%261$64,688$170,400$145 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Loudonville, OH 44842 92%285$72,737$206,700$156 Very close on everything we compare
Rockport, IN 47635 92%587$66,286$166,700$110 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Fraser, MI 48026 92%337$64,354$215,900$161 larger
Peshtigo, WI 54157 92%626$70,469$164,600$147 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Berlin, WI 54923 92%655$66,223$189,300$161 Very close on everything we compare
Staunton, IL 62088 92%700$62,808$145,800$111 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Avon, NY 14414 91%146$72,006$184,200$161 Very close on everything we compare
South Charleston, WV 25309 91%314$57,937$158,000$130 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Proctorville, OH 45669 91%340$67,500$189,200$156 Very close on everything we compare
Tipton, IN 46072 91%487$72,375$180,100$137 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46819 91%436$63,947$168,100$152 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents
Winamac, IN 46996 91%513$64,167$154,900$122 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Monticello, IN 47960 91%521$65,603$192,700$167 larger
Knoxville, IA 50138 91%848$74,693$196,700$159 Very close on everything we compare

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.