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 Independence, OH 44131

Independence: median income $100,594, home value $270,600, $195/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Livonia, MI 48154 94%113$104,867$304,700$198 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Glenshaw, PA 15116 90%106$94,352$263,700$215 Very close on everything we compare
Watertown, CT 06795 88%442$104,850$365,500$244 pricier homes ($95K more)
East Aurora, NY 14052 86%184$99,970$343,700$258 pricier homes ($73K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Waterford, MI 48329 85%126$85,709$270,800$194 younger residents
New Berlin, WI 53146 85%350$110,035$346,100$254 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller
Duluth, MN 55803 85%641$105,888$336,000$231 pricier homes ($65K more)
Irwin, PA 15642 84%125$97,706$243,800$197 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Shavertown, PA 18708 84%295$98,545$264,800$167 smaller
Livonia, MI 48150 84%111$97,997$239,700$175 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Livonia, MI 48152 84%113$88,288$300,500$178 pricier homes ($30K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Coventry, CT 06238 83%483$108,213$330,000$244 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · less walkable
East Longmeadow, MA 01028 82%474$106,424$379,200$259 pricier homes ($109K more) · younger residents
Windsor, CT 06095 82%466$105,322$305,500$221 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Vineland, NJ 08361 82%376$99,050$285,900$207 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Elma, NY 14059 82%185$113,555$346,500$252 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · younger residents
Ligonier, PA 15658 82%149$82,771$245,400$206 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · older residents
Butler, PA 16002 82%101$90,305$263,100$188 less walkable
La Crescent, MN 55947 82%519$88,611$302,200$179 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · newer homes
Millstadt, IL 62260 82%490$91,039$252,500$174 smaller · newer homes
Berlin, CT 06037 81%462$116,042$377,100$236 pricier homes ($107K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Marcellus, NY 13108 81%294$94,327$243,200$205 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more renters
Cheswick, PA 15024 81%110$79,647$239,600$181 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Sarver, PA 16055 81%110$90,950$315,300$169 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · newer homes
Wolcott, CT 06716 80%449$111,225$325,300$236 pricier homes ($55K more) · younger residents · 8 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.