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 South Bend, IN 46635

South Bend: median income $81,944, home value $208,400, $135/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Archbald, PA 18403 96%551$77,521$223,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Williamstown, WV 26187 94%297$83,226$198,300$145 Very close on everything we compare
Bluffton, OH 45817 94%133$76,848$210,100$173 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, WI 53813 94%243$84,004$220,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Apalachin, NY 13732 93%517$88,750$192,900$145 Very close on everything we compare
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 93%418$81,540$219,500$158 larger
Higginsville, MO 64037 93%435$91,843$187,100$151 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, PA 15342 92%328$92,402$247,300$165 pricier homes ($39K more)
Jermyn, PA 18433 92%548$75,000$213,900$147 Very close on everything we compare
Cuba City, WI 53807 92%227$77,887$225,500$158 smaller
Geneseo, IL 61254 92%205$92,297$222,700$141 larger
Marshall, MI 49068 91%75$80,857$214,800$170 larger
Negaunee, MI 49866 91%337$85,019$212,300$165 younger residents
Tremont, IL 61568 91%190$100,972$239,300$128 pricier homes ($31K more)
Le Roy, IL 61752 91%163$87,591$178,100$135 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Aurora, NE 68818 91%616$81,045$263,900$123 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents
Albany, TX 76430 91%950$77,102$202,400$145 smaller
Girard, PA 16417 90%304$88,041$190,300$141 Very close on everything we compare
Montoursville, PA 17754 90%482$72,633$249,300$156 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Auburn, MI 48611 90%169$87,963$177,100$165 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min longer commute
Dyersville, IA 52040 90%257$84,761$242,300$126 pricier homes ($34K more)
Wilton, IA 52778 90%248$82,623$202,200$158 smaller
Panhandle, TX 79068 90%930$86,264$165,300$120 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
South Charleston, WV 25303 89%332$75,872$173,200$121 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Kingsport, TN 37663 89%414$76,007$238,900$169 pricier homes ($31K 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.