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 Effort, PA 18330

Effort: median income $93,733, home value $291,600, $183/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Almont, MI 48003 96%412$90,452$290,100$222 Very close on everything we compare
Dryden, MI 48428 96%418$100,033$311,600$204 smaller
Winston, GA 30187 95%722$101,702$330,100$160 pricier homes ($39K more)
Centerburg, OH 43011 95%382$90,121$315,600$205 Very close on everything we compare
Social Circle, GA 30025 94%676$95,757$322,100$170 pricier homes ($31K more)
Cedar Hill, MO 63016 94%827$86,359$229,900$173 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Joelton, TN 37080 92%696$87,963$333,700$232 pricier homes ($42K more)
California, KY 41007 92%491$100,924$314,200$147 smaller
Litchfield, OH 44253 92%342$91,500$283,300$232 smaller
Mc Louth, KS 66054 92%1,050$98,214$243,500$185 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Brooksville, FL 34602 91%944$77,215$276,400$190 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral, VA 23117 90%242$89,241$301,400$264 Very close on everything we compare
Providence Forge, VA 23140 90%258$97,500$336,600$203 pricier homes ($45K more)
Hedgesville, WV 25427 90%171$87,184$291,100$210 larger
Williamson, GA 30292 90%729$87,394$327,100$179 pricier homes ($36K more)
Amanda, OH 43102 90%396$90,781$304,500$196 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Marengo, OH 43334 90%388$100,825$262,900$220 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Sunman, IN 47041 90%523$81,016$287,400$179 6 min shorter commute
Allenton, MI 48002 90%407$93,948$313,100$214 smaller
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 89%161$94,130$311,600$207 smaller
Conowingo, MD 21918 89%96$84,587$324,800$230 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Trafalgar, IN 46181 89%577$91,337$314,300$164 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hebron, IN 46341 89%612$89,559$269,300$189 more apartments and townhomes
Kouts, IN 46347 89%602$95,348$255,400$173 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lowell, IN 46356 89%623$89,217$281,500$184 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.