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 Lehighton, PA 18235

Lehighton: median income $72,571, home value $233,600, $154/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harriman, TN 37748 94%585$64,883$196,900$189 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Bedford, IN 47421 94%588$68,108$188,100$163 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Clio, MI 48420 94%443$66,063$192,400$144 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lapeer, MI 48446 94%421$66,062$220,200$163 larger
Urbana, OH 43078 92%427$73,816$197,600$165 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Sheffield Lake, OH 44054 92%336$75,572$184,400$173 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Martinsville, IN 46151 92%576$78,812$242,200$164 larger
Mooresville, IN 46158 92%569$81,096$255,100$170 Very close on everything we compare
Swartz Creek, MI 48473 92%442$77,921$205,600$163 cheaper homes ($28K less)
New London, WI 54961 92%707$71,824$221,400$192 Very close on everything we compare
Marseilles, IL 61341 92%677$72,530$200,900$138 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Bowie, TX 76230 92%1,313$66,641$220,600$145 smaller
Swanton, OH 43558 91%428$74,173$206,300$162 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Madison, OH 44057 91%286$75,615$180,300$167 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Wellington, OH 44090 91%341$76,906$248,000$175 smaller
Aurora, IN 47001 91%504$75,886$199,700$149 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Batesville, IN 47006 91%514$72,559$253,500$136 Very close on everything we compare
Belding, MI 48809 91%514$71,071$210,400$187 smaller
Saint Johns, MI 48879 91%480$79,129$229,100$177 5 min shorter commute
Hastings, MI 49058 91%510$68,214$220,000$161 Very close on everything we compare
Tecumseh, MI 49286 91%435$72,429$238,800$180 younger residents
Anamosa, IA 52205 91%811$72,500$221,500$132 smaller
Wilmington, IL 60481 91%649$79,042$232,600$194 smaller
Hallettsville, TX 77964 91%1,428$68,056$238,300$165 smaller
Plainfield, CT 06374 90%205$71,882$248,700$194 smaller

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.