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 Canton, MI 48187

Canton: median income $120,321, home value $364,200, $196/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Osseo, MN 55369 96%534$112,144$376,400$205 Very close on everything we compare
Canonsburg, PA 15317 95%223$108,044$354,500$198 Very close on everything we compare
Mundelein, IL 60060 95%232$110,335$326,700$233 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Clifton Park, NY 12065 94%494$113,873$379,900$262 Very close on everything we compare
Marlton, NJ 08053 93%477$118,670$397,600$259 pricier homes ($33K more)
Williamsburg, VA 23185 93%500$105,431$429,500$220 pricier homes ($65K more)
West Chester, OH 45069 93%212$114,631$345,000$192 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, IL 60174 93%249$104,534$362,200$254 smaller
Batavia, IL 60510 92%250$121,622$392,200$237 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Plano, TX 75023 92%966$109,660$416,500$208 pricier homes ($52K more)
Lancaster, PA 17601 91%403$102,435$354,400$213 6 min shorter commute
Delaware, OH 43015 91%142$105,322$342,700$202 newer homes
Dayton, OH 45458 91%192$110,150$362,700$175 Very close on everything we compare
Crystal Lake, IL 60014 91%249$109,016$323,800$193 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Gurnee, IL 60031 91%229$111,034$335,100$199 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Ballwin, MO 63021 91%452$120,177$349,500$192 Very close on everything we compare
Coraopolis, PA 15108 90%211$100,859$272,400$186 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15237 90%216$109,895$326,700$216 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Bel Air, MD 21014 90%418$116,970$429,900$207 pricier homes ($66K more)
Reisterstown, MD 21136 90%400$118,500$422,100$206 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · older residents
Matthews, NC 28105 90%520$108,190$430,800$234 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55125 90%506$119,260$416,100$192 pricier homes ($52K more) · newer homes
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 89%475$118,802$357,200$249 more apartments and townhomes
Orchard Park, NY 14127 89%242$109,386$364,900$237 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 89%365$113,720$372,900$192 5 min shorter commute · newer homes

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.