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 Roanoke, VA 24014

Roanoke: median income $70,381, home value $266,100, $172/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Barre, VT 05641 93%619$76,855$253,200$203 Very close on everything we compare
Lewiston, NY 14092 93%413$72,218$279,900$199 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsport, TN 37664 91%150$63,653$240,000$180 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Hermitage, PA 16148 90%278$70,490$197,900$154 cheaper homes ($68K less) · less walkable
Ludington, MI 49431 90%576$66,336$237,700$203 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Brattleboro, VT 05301 89%549$65,910$270,900$220 Very close on everything we compare
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 89%237$81,540$219,500$158 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44143 89%310$81,268$273,100$175 larger · 6 min longer commute
Baker City, OR 97814 89%2,023$64,852$294,400$156 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Montoursville, PA 17754 88%323$72,633$249,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Clear Lake, IA 50428 88%817$81,037$283,400$232 smaller
Decorah, IA 52101 88%752$73,484$273,200$172 younger residents
Dalton, MA 01226 87%510$79,438$295,700$184 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Buffalo, NY 14227 87%396$68,928$208,800$227 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Du Bois, PA 15801 87%276$67,583$181,800$151 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents
Erie, PA 16505 87%337$72,938$211,700$169 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more walkable
Erie, PA 16506 87%335$81,060$237,300$201 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Wellsboro, PA 16901 87%342$67,146$237,100$139 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
Columbiana, OH 44408 87%256$74,028$208,000$179 cheaper homes ($58K less) · less walkable
Bennington, VT 05201 86%529$59,798$212,700$193 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents
Henrietta, NY 14467 86%420$88,653$225,100$201 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Danville, PA 17821 86%314$76,971$249,500$164 younger residents
Olyphant, PA 18447 86%373$66,677$207,900$150 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 86%977$70,644$241,200$176 Very close on everything we compare
Randolph, VT 05060 85%600$77,317$255,500$200 smaller · 5 min longer commute

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.