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 Vandalia, OH 45377

Vandalia: median income $77,398, home value $202,800, $164/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairview Heights, IL 62208 97%323$80,205$176,000$134 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Janesville, WI 53548 96%320$76,869$234,900$164 pricier homes ($32K more)
Janesville, WI 53545 95%319$73,889$220,700$168 larger
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136 93%221$69,099$184,900$165 larger
Bridgeton, MO 63044 93%341$77,819$238,100$165 pricier homes ($35K more)
Lincoln, NE 68507 93%657$69,488$230,400$159 pricier homes ($28K more)
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 92%418$70,123$185,500$137 larger
Depew, NY 14043 91%353$74,112$212,100$204 larger
Dallastown, PA 17313 91%400$70,176$237,900$163 pricier homes ($35K more)
Fort Wayne, IN 46815 91%95$73,239$209,500$141 larger
Janesville, WI 53546 91%315$75,825$239,400$192 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
East Syracuse, NY 13057 90%475$80,900$169,800$177 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Avon, NY 14414 90%395$72,006$184,200$161 smaller
Rochester, NY 14626 90%407$78,204$198,400$180 larger
Middletown, PA 17057 90%396$73,407$201,600$168 larger · more apartments and townhomes
New Cumberland, PA 17070 90%388$88,000$253,700$163 pricier homes ($51K more)
Cayce, SC 29033 90%444$61,237$163,800$167 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Belleville, IL 62226 90%324$70,797$167,000$120 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Shawnee, KS 66203 90%564$75,869$254,900$222 pricier homes ($52K more)
North Little Rock, AR 72116 90%563$79,010$232,600$132 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14219 89%343$78,569$192,900$183 older residents
Erie, PA 16506 89%260$81,060$237,300$201 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Erie, PA 16509 89%263$68,846$220,500$169 larger
Davenport, IA 52806 89%355$74,297$190,400$162 larger · less walkable
Racine, WI 53402 89%273$75,751$230,800$190 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger

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.