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 Lancaster, OH 43130

Lancaster: median income $72,153, home value $230,000, $180/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hobart, IN 46342 95%274$75,521$213,000$164 smaller
Waynesboro, PA 17268 94%268$73,161$237,000$164 smaller
La Porte, IN 46350 93%251$74,307$212,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Portage, IN 46368 93%272$76,368$227,100$170 smaller
Gainesville, TX 76240 92%907$71,502$227,100$180 smaller
Hopewell, VA 23860 91%332$62,141$206,500$195 smaller
Winchester, KY 40391 91%147$64,144$204,900$162 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Clinton Township, MI 48035 91%196$73,015$192,000$160 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Westland, MI 48186 91%182$65,187$174,000$157 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Fairmont, WV 26554 90%128$69,712$183,900$151 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Orange Park, FL 32073 90%662$76,455$287,600$181 pricier homes ($58K more)
Louisville, KY 40272 90%208$69,940$176,200$164 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Sterling Heights, MI 48312 90%197$68,061$264,500$151 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Belvidere, IL 61008 90%370$76,604$195,800$151 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Leavenworth, KS 66048 90%657$72,734$219,100$150 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Waco, TX 76708 90%991$68,856$219,900$165 smaller
Millville, NJ 08332 89%404$67,496$214,200$192 smaller
Lockport, NY 14094 89%312$75,427$197,200$179 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Washington, PA 15301 89%128$70,473$206,800$172 7 min shorter commute
Lexington, NC 27292 89%298$57,264$211,400$171 smaller
Elizabeth City, NC 27909 89%419$66,732$234,600$188 smaller · newer homes
Statesville, NC 28677 89%286$62,406$224,200$172 smaller · newer homes
Rossville, GA 30741 89%361$58,834$172,700$171 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Fayetteville, TN 37334 89%383$62,525$230,700$167 smaller
Waterford, MI 48327 89%206$74,788$257,500$194 pricier homes ($28K more) · 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.