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 Mahanoy City, PA 17948

Mahanoy City: median income $47,813, home value $55,100, $58/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Niagara Falls, NY 14303 62%217$45,646$79,400$83 6 min shorter commute · more renters · more single-family homes
Elmira, NY 14901 61%96$40,989$93,800$65 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48211 60%373$35,725$78,900$45 younger residents · more renters · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63107 60%761$43,625$64,400$49 larger · older residents · more renters
Cleveland, OH 44108 59%289$34,745$67,700$67 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
River Rouge, MI 48218 56%375$41,033$65,200$72 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Gary, IN 46402 55%584$33,529$85,400$60 pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Muncie, IN 47305 54%487$36,389$77,800$71 7 min shorter commute · more renters · more single-family homes
Youngstown, OH 44504 53%236$45,299$77,500$43 10 min shorter commute · more renters · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63113 52%763$39,913$81,600$48 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Elmira, NY 14904 50%94$53,174$92,200$86 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
East Chicago, IN 46312 50%591$42,125$105,400$101 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more renters
Highland Park, MI 48203 50%376$38,404$76,200$70 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48206 50%376$45,046$116,300$53 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Burns Flat, OK 73624 50%1,305$45,491$106,700— pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · more renters
Salamanca, NY 14779 49%163$42,593$85,900$104 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48204 49%377$34,468$59,200$55 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48238 49%378$33,315$64,800$46 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Rockford, IL 61104 49%676$33,772$90,100$100 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more renters
Berlin, NH 03570 48%357$45,180$131,000$98 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14212 48%199$44,020$103,400$137 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44105 48%288$40,906$61,400$65 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Ecorse, MI 48229 48%376$40,264$65,400$90 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44110 47%287$31,928$60,900$61 larger · more renters · more walkable
Topeka, KS 66608 47%1,040$49,126$87,500$112 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute

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.