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 Whiting, IN 46394

Whiting: median income $66,176, home value $173,200, $136/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scranton, PA 18519 91%612$58,500$181,000$142 smaller
New Brighton, PA 15066 90%380$63,836$153,300$135 newer homes
Medina, NY 14103 89%476$69,926$144,700$118 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
Ambridge, PA 15003 89%386$59,550$134,500$116 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Kenosha, WI 53143 88%63$68,343$200,500$184 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Duluth, MN 55808 88%417$62,031$174,200$160 smaller
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 87%604$59,344$140,700$118 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Wyandotte, MI 48192 87%226$71,987$166,900$152 larger · newer homes
Salem, NJ 08079 86%648$54,641$196,700$125 newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15207 86%404$57,427$150,200$141 more walkable
Duryea, PA 18642 86%607$61,250$158,700$140 smaller · newer homes
Belleville, IL 62220 86%255$65,952$157,400$112 larger · newer homes
Johnstown, NY 12095 85%676$69,469$168,700$131 8 min shorter commute
Tamaqua, PA 18252 85%602$65,257$156,300$122 more apartments and townhomes
Springfield, VT 05156 84%772$66,679$204,300$162 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 84%804$62,411$197,500$171 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Gloversville, NY 12078 84%678$58,367$136,100$130 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 84%398$61,645$185,900$169 more walkable · newer homes
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 84%593$68,558$169,600$137 newer homes
Scranton, PA 18512 84%615$64,708$176,100$130 10 min shorter commute
Wayne, MI 48184 84%216$59,171$158,000$124 newer homes
Oneida, NY 13421 83%612$65,752$162,000$136 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Sunbury, PA 17801 83%559$60,664$153,500$110 older residents · newer homes
Jessup, PA 18434 83%616$62,922$164,000$158 smaller · newer homes
Dayton, KY 41074 83%238$66,087$164,300$157 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable

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.