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 Tower City, PA 17980

Tower City: median income $71,210, home value $149,600, $121/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Silver Creek, NY 14136 88%191$69,567$151,500$118 larger
Middleport, NY 14105 86%207$92,405$168,400$121 larger
Medina, NY 14103 85%205$69,926$144,700$118 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Monona, IA 52159 85%782$74,259$165,400$110 8 min shorter commute
Mohawk, NY 13407 84%185$69,846$149,100$124 larger · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Clarence, IA 52216 84%758$67,857$191,900$102 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Hoosick Falls, NY 12090 83%229$68,056$173,800$153 larger · newer homes
Cattaraugus, NY 14719 83%171$62,188$115,100$147 cheaper homes ($35K less) · less walkable
Chester, WV 26034 82%210$56,556$138,400$109 newer homes
Fayette, OH 43521 82%411$60,550$120,500$136 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
New Washington, OH 44854 82%331$70,357$146,200$134 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 82%787$72,857$150,700$95 newer homes
Le Roy, MN 55951 82%842$61,131$168,800$115 smaller · newer homes
Toulon, IL 61483 82%696$63,558$109,100$110 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Antwerp, NY 13608 81%257$73,643$111,600$101 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mount Morris, NY 14510 81%160$61,713$104,700$94 cheaper homes ($45K less)
New London, OH 44851 81%308$66,408$161,600$115 larger · newer homes
Kentland, IN 47951 81%571$66,156$115,600$107 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Prophetstown, IL 61277 81%700$70,363$148,200$116 more single-family homes · newer homes
Gillespie, IL 62033 81%711$78,286$106,200$109 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
South Dayton, NY 14138 80%179$56,868$111,700$134 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · less walkable
Adena, OH 43901 80%229$63,603$107,600$114 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, OH 43912 80%225$55,668$121,600$121 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Waynesburg, OH 44688 80%247$66,444$130,400$146 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bloomville, OH 44818 80%338$63,922$141,300$116 smaller · 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.