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 Center Valley, PA 18034

Center Valley: median income $153,200, home value $475,900, $235/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cranston, RI 02921 95%221$147,204$535,800$293 pricier homes ($60K more)
Granville, OH 43023 93%375$142,852$473,100$220 larger
Polk City, IA 50226 92%952$153,011$417,500$297 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Stilwell, KS 66085 92%1,028$152,500$538,300$241 pricier homes ($62K more)
Millersville, MD 21108 91%118$151,324$555,000$241 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 90%57$157,009$488,100$252 larger · 6 min longer commute
Grover, MO 63040 90%820$133,220$426,600$188 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Middlebury, CT 06762 89%139$133,487$476,400$253 older homes
Lake Elmo, MN 55042 89%936$154,341$602,100$236 pricier homes ($126K more) · newer homes
Prior Lake, MN 55372 89%956$145,499$467,400$206 larger
Byron, MN 55920 89%910$131,336$372,600$193 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Shawnee, KS 66218 89%1,028$168,878$436,600$207 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
Northbridge, MA 01534 88%225$141,250$481,200$265 Very close on everything we compare
Tyngsboro, MA 01879 88%254$129,348$552,500$331 pricier homes ($77K more)
Lee, NH 03861 88%289$131,579$480,600$281 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Lake Orion, MI 48360 88%433$140,865$387,500$181 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55115 88%939$124,234$488,400$218 lower income ($29K less)
Eden Prairie, MN 55346 88%962$135,000$480,100$211 larger
Rogers, MN 55374 88%971$144,714$462,000$193 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Clancy, MT 59634 88%1,860$129,891$553,900$264 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller
Winfield, IL 60190 88%667$142,612$392,800$248 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 7 min longer commute
Sutton, MA 01590 87%220$147,015$523,100$276 pricier homes ($47K more) · 7 min longer commute
Milford, CT 06461 87%132$133,221$424,700$299 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older homes
Hockessin, DE 19707 87%55$172,696$556,600$211 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 87%223$141,711$433,900$228 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger

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.