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 Johnstown, OH 43031

Johnstown: median income $110,930, home value $389,900, $224/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Douglassville, PA 19518 98%367$114,181$354,700$210 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Hampstead, MD 21074 96%311$108,536$378,100$217 Very close on everything we compare
Mukwonago, WI 53149 96%348$110,608$414,200$240 Very close on everything we compare
Charlton, MA 01507 95%575$117,587$427,500$272 pricier homes ($38K more)
Delano, MN 55328 95%657$114,158$409,800$197 Very close on everything we compare
Smithville, MO 64089 95%632$101,009$327,200$196 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Milton, VT 05468 94%578$114,709$372,200$255 Very close on everything we compare
Poquoson, VA 23662 94%399$120,972$400,300$217 older homes
Tonganoxie, KS 66086 94%664$98,318$325,900$212 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Fairbanks, AK 99712 94%3,026$112,808$320,100$223 cheaper homes ($70K less)
East Hampton, CT 06424 93%541$123,680$347,800$242 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
New Tripoli, PA 18066 93%368$109,115$328,400$191 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Oxford, PA 19363 93%356$107,067$370,200$217 Very close on everything we compare
Mohnton, PA 19540 93%354$100,000$319,600$216 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Rising Sun, MD 21911 93%354$104,673$359,000$220 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Chester, VA 23836 93%347$100,921$356,400$192 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Danville, IN 46122 93%205$99,531$304,900$165 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Oxford, MI 48371 93%187$111,239$370,200$196 larger
Wyoming, MN 55092 93%632$95,337$363,900$206 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Basehor, KS 66007 93%656$121,266$381,200$209 Very close on everything we compare
Belchertown, MA 01007 92%554$108,125$371,400$258 Very close on everything we compare
Berwick, ME 03901 92%648$94,771$369,100$261 smaller
Gorham, ME 04038 92%674$112,312$460,900$301 pricier homes ($71K more)
Mc Donald, PA 15057 92%130$120,821$355,400$192 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Centreville, MD 21617 92%362$116,898$483,700$218 pricier homes ($94K more)

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.