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 Wakeman, OH 44889

Wakeman: median income $86,500, home value $242,200, $187/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Bloomfield, PA 17068 95%277$82,888$214,600$165 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Hebron, IN 46341 95%251$89,559$269,300$189 pricier homes ($27K more)
Shermans Dale, PA 17090 94%279$78,281$260,700$186 Very close on everything we compare
Sand Lake, MI 49343 94%214$80,408$244,200$244 Very close on everything we compare
Pine City, MN 55063 94%614$74,667$253,200$205 Very close on everything we compare
Gardners, PA 17324 93%285$77,824$254,100$200 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
York Springs, PA 17372 93%290$82,313$282,700$158 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Aurora, IN 47001 93%203$75,886$199,700$149 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Glenwood City, WI 54013 93%559$87,500$307,600$179 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller
Clatskanie, OR 97016 93%2,044$79,375$336,000$232 pricier homes ($94K more)
Halifax, PA 17032 92%292$81,250$226,400$150 Very close on everything we compare
Mercersburg, PA 17236 92%255$79,271$239,600$151 Very close on everything we compare
Delta, PA 17314 92%334$96,047$269,300$187 pricier homes ($27K more)
Pine Grove, PA 17963 92%320$79,118$216,500$163 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Catawba, NC 28609 92%393$77,679$245,900$190 younger residents
Carleton, MI 48117 92%75$78,942$298,100$185 pricier homes ($56K more) · 5 min shorter commute
North Branch, MI 48461 92%141$78,453$205,200$168 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Webberville, MI 48892 92%133$89,125$210,900$172 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Pardeeville, WI 53954 92%388$83,207$278,600$190 pricier homes ($36K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Garden City, MO 64747 92%652$82,642$237,600$165 smaller · newer homes
Liverpool, PA 17045 91%284$76,800$230,300$143 smaller
East Berlin, PA 17316 91%296$90,664$293,200$184 pricier homes ($51K more)
Shickshinny, PA 18655 91%326$72,571$190,700$168 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Clear Spring, MD 21722 91%260$88,232$312,500$195 pricier homes ($70K more) · younger residents
Cedar Hill, MO 63016 91%482$86,359$229,900$173 Very close on everything we compare

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.