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 Bangor, PA 18013

Bangor: median income $78,847, home value $259,600, $195/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Athol, MA 01331 94%194$72,181$281,400$248 Very close on everything we compare
Watertown, WI 53094 93%713$73,443$237,500$194 Very close on everything we compare
Pennsville, NJ 08070 92%85$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Highland, IN 46322 92%640$78,062$233,300$168 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Griffith, IN 46319 91%638$74,662$203,300$152 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Midlothian, IL 60445 90%654$70,634$208,000$197 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Hammonton, NJ 08037 89%87$81,312$322,900$231 pricier homes ($63K more) · newer homes
Alden, NY 14004 89%223$90,839$258,300$224 smaller
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48082 89%414$74,806$214,200$167 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Racine, WI 53402 89%663$75,751$230,800$190 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Northfield, VT 05663 88%261$77,524$276,100$224 smaller
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 88%10$79,949$267,200$241 larger
Springville, NY 14141 88%215$80,906$217,800$170 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Middletown, OH 45042 88%495$69,520$202,200$156 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081 88%414$82,009$217,900$172 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Two Harbors, MN 55616 88%923$76,127$259,200$170 smaller
Uncasville, CT 06382 87%165$89,635$267,800$257 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Terryville, CT 06786 87%126$87,306$265,300$233 smaller · less walkable
Wilmington, DE 19804 87%82$79,701$264,100$219 more walkable
North Olmsted, OH 44070 87%353$84,363$219,800$177 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hobart, IN 46342 87%629$75,521$213,000$164 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · newer homes
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080 87%414$66,986$199,900$154 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Warren, MI 48092 87%423$73,808$220,400$156 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Boone, IA 50036 87%970$79,255$194,400$171 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Jefferson, WI 53549 87%716$80,101$262,200$207 smaller · newer 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.