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 Hazleton, PA 18202

Hazleton: median income $55,153, home value $212,000, $161/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fraser, MI 48026 95%372$64,354$215,900$161 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45414 94%436$54,485$182,300$145 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
New Philadelphia, OH 44663 93%284$61,551$180,100$172 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Madison, IN 47250 93%519$61,284$196,600$163 larger
Essexville, MI 48732 93%437$57,903$169,600$133 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Little Falls, MN 56345 93%979$60,676$236,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
Skowhegan, ME 04976 92%416$53,534$165,000$158 cheaper homes ($47K less)
South Charleston, WV 25309 92%349$57,937$158,000$130 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Knoxville, TN 37914 92%543$59,856$218,300$186 larger
Newton, IA 50208 92%882$62,306$168,900$169 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Litchfield, MN 55355 92%974$63,295$224,400$159 Very close on everything we compare
Vinton, VA 24179 91%326$67,565$224,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Pulaski, VA 24301 91%370$57,718$173,300$147 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Parkersburg, WV 26104 91%310$54,331$170,800$138 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Ocala, FL 34479 91%877$54,283$207,400$165 newer homes
Cullman, AL 35055 91%752$58,405$218,900$156 larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46819 91%475$63,947$168,100$152 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Kansas City, MO 64138 91%984$58,638$188,400$142 larger
Globe, AZ 85501 91%1,968$61,983$164,200$137 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Shelby, NC 28150 90%491$55,832$211,400$159 larger
Erwin, TN 37650 90%478$50,654$168,100$155 cheaper homes ($44K less) · less walkable
Norwalk, OH 44857 90%342$64,297$175,300$155 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Bluffton, IN 46714 90%476$66,441$185,300$150 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Warren, MI 48093 90%374$68,218$212,100$130 larger
Monroe, MI 48161 90%390$67,414$176,200$155 cheaper homes ($36K 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.