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 Reading, PA 19609

Reading: median income $82,576, home value $247,300, $188/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Northfield, VT 05663 94%314$77,524$276,100$224 pricier homes ($29K more)
Clawson, MI 48017 94%401$88,812$267,500$208 Very close on everything we compare
Boone, IA 50036 91%936$79,255$194,400$171 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 90%206$81,205$258,800$226 Very close on everything we compare
Whitesboro, NY 13492 90%196$82,173$207,900$192 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Berea, OH 44017 90%315$75,231$198,400$170 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Dayton, OH 45432 90%430$83,115$183,300$168 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Schenectady, NY 12303 89%200$84,375$238,100$226 larger
Bluffton, OH 45817 89%416$76,848$210,100$173 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Springfield, MA 01118 88%217$80,250$275,100$242 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more walkable
Williamson, NY 14589 88%210$86,885$192,800$149 cheaper homes ($55K less) · less walkable
Marshall, MI 49068 88%484$80,857$214,800$170 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Viroqua, WI 54665 88%796$72,093$228,200$193 Very close on everything we compare
Thomaston, CT 06787 87%178$103,102$282,900$239 pricier homes ($36K more)
Pennsville, NJ 08070 87%53$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Springville, NY 14141 87%206$80,906$217,800$170 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Warren, MI 48092 87%396$73,808$220,400$156 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Somerdale, NJ 08083 86%61$96,653$272,700$249 pricier homes ($25K more)
Schenectady, NY 12302 86%204$98,163$255,700$220 larger
Camillus, NY 13031 86%188$88,224$218,300$216 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Phoenix, NY 13135 86%202$87,041$174,200$168 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Highland, IN 46322 86%604$78,062$233,300$168 larger · older residents
Dearborn, MI 48124 86%401$81,796$204,200$170 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
De Witt, IA 52742 86%763$97,946$261,000$165 newer homes
Mineral Point, WI 53565 86%752$84,589$269,800$183 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.