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 Pine Grove, PA 17963

Pine Grove: median income $79,118, home value $216,500, $163/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swanton, OH 43558 95%399$74,173$206,300$162 Very close on everything we compare
Atwater, OH 44201 95%257$79,459$222,400$185 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, IN 47001 95%469$75,886$199,700$149 Very close on everything we compare
Mantua, OH 44255 94%261$78,099$213,700$194 Very close on everything we compare
Walkerton, IN 46574 94%533$76,181$188,100$136 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Tipton, IA 52772 94%774$81,267$225,700$152 smaller
Derby, NY 14047 93%201$78,816$194,200$194 smaller
West Jefferson, OH 43162 93%369$76,250$213,800$175 6 min shorter commute
Marine City, MI 48039 93%353$82,755$181,300$172 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
Brodhead, WI 53520 93%688$75,205$222,600$181 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Anne, IL 60964 93%593$82,083$184,500$161 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Saint Paris, OH 43072 92%403$76,375$188,100$174 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Bellville, OH 44813 92%325$77,846$225,200$175 younger residents
Wakeman, OH 44889 92%320$86,500$242,200$187 pricier homes ($26K more)
Tipton, IN 46072 92%511$72,375$180,100$137 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Swartz Creek, MI 48473 92%419$77,921$205,600$163 larger
Juneau, WI 53039 92%663$79,103$222,800$195 smaller
Markesan, WI 53946 92%684$72,450$245,500$175 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Oregon, IL 61061 92%682$87,829$196,000$142 Very close on everything we compare
Northville, NY 12134 91%215$77,928$222,600$176 smaller
Wellington, OH 44090 91%311$76,906$248,000$175 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Camden, OH 45311 91%443$68,555$194,600$142 smaller
Spencer, IN 47460 91%560$68,447$193,000$172 Very close on everything we compare
Rockwood, MI 48173 91%372$94,094$244,900$165 pricier homes ($28K more)
Birch Run, MI 48415 91%426$79,067$210,200$162 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.