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 Shamokin, PA 17872

Shamokin: median income $48,750, home value $81,800, $39/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48206 70%356$45,046$116,300$53 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63107 66%739$43,625$64,400$49 more renters · more walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63113 63%741$39,913$81,600$48 older residents · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Elmira, NY 14901 62%92$40,989$93,800$65 larger · 12 min shorter commute · more renters
Detroit, MI 48204 62%357$34,468$59,200$55 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Cleveland, OH 44108 60%268$34,745$67,700$67 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Detroit, MI 48211 60%352$35,725$78,900$45 smaller · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48213 58%350$34,003$56,200$42 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48238 58%358$33,315$64,800$46 larger · younger residents · more renters
Cleveland, OH 44105 56%267$40,906$61,400$65 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Highland Park, MI 48203 56%356$38,404$76,200$70 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
River Rouge, MI 48218 55%355$41,033$65,200$72 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63147 54%740$41,182$79,000$65 older residents · more single-family homes · more walkable
Mount Morris, NY 14510 53%147$61,713$104,700$94 smaller · more single-family homes
Hornell, NY 14843 53%121$57,874$112,100$76 pricier homes ($30K more) · 12 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Middleport, OH 45760 53%317$46,905$94,800$61 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Gary, IN 46402 53%563$33,529$85,400$60 smaller · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Grayville, IL 62844 53%634$47,625$79,200— smaller · more single-family homes · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63115 53%741$30,622$75,600$29 larger · more renters · more walkable
Elmira, NY 14904 52%90$53,174$92,200$86 larger · 12 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 52%225$45,923$103,600$82 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
East Saint Louis, IL 62205 52%736$45,672$41,800$32 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Fort Plain, NY 13339 51%178$56,047$94,400$97 more homeowners · more single-family homes · less walkable
Gouverneur, NY 13642 51%251$49,728$136,400$78 pricier homes ($55K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Anniston, AL 36201 51%709$37,614$80,900$40 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes

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.