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 Saint Clair, MI 48079

Saint Clair: median income $79,891, home value $293,000, $179/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paola, KS 66071 96%711$84,142$262,500$172 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Swanton, VT 05488 95%489$77,154$288,700$225 smaller
Greencastle, PA 17225 95%325$88,457$304,100$171 larger
Manheim, PA 17545 95%365$84,704$288,500$201 larger
Moscow, PA 18444 95%372$84,246$261,100$207 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Troutville, VA 24175 95%400$82,314$302,200$167 smaller
Gibsonville, NC 27249 95%489$80,880$236,600$173 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Sheridan, IN 46069 95%267$76,990$291,900$183 smaller
Paynesville, MN 56362 95%630$86,212$258,900$188 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Elmer, NJ 08318 94%443$92,558$302,000$198 Very close on everything we compare
Waterford, PA 16441 94%142$81,117$223,900$153 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Spring Grove, PA 17362 94%357$98,702$292,100$179 Very close on everything we compare
Bath, PA 18014 94%393$82,027$288,700$223 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, VA 24523 94%412$73,957$239,800$188 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Saint Clairsville, OH 43950 94%206$76,175$225,900$177 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Wellington, OH 44090 94%115$76,906$248,000$175 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Canal Fulton, OH 44614 94%142$83,671$208,900$205 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Hartville, OH 44632 94%143$91,061$267,500$199 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Milton, WI 53563 94%326$89,528$293,800$229 Very close on everything we compare
Waupaca, WI 54981 94%346$72,640$218,700$193 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Cannon Falls, MN 55009 94%530$91,295$331,300$208 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Two Harbors, MN 55616 94%534$76,127$259,200$170 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Plattsmouth, NE 68048 94%700$89,931$261,600$162 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Lampasas, TX 76550 94%1,183$78,578$241,600$184 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Fort Edward, NY 12828 93%452$76,019$226,900$183 cheaper homes ($66K less)

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.