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 Waterford, MI 48329

Waterford: median income $85,709, home value $270,800, $194/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amherst, OH 44001 95%109$90,139$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Elmer, NJ 08318 93%479$92,558$302,000$198 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Butler, PA 16002 93%222$90,305$263,100$188 smaller
Mogadore, OH 44260 92%155$82,444$210,200$182 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Clinton, OH 44216 90%152$98,776$236,300$203 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Springfield, OH 45502 90%192$88,988$243,600$183 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Eden, NY 14057 89%229$92,410$263,600$205 smaller
Columbia Station, OH 44028 89%120$87,595$331,700$204 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Grafton, OH 44044 89%119$88,333$257,500$181 smaller
Alden, NY 14004 88%247$90,839$258,300$224 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Irwin, PA 15642 88%251$97,706$243,800$197 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Spring Grove, PA 17362 88%390$98,702$292,100$179 smaller
Moscow, PA 18444 87%414$84,246$261,100$207 smaller · newer homes
Tallmadge, OH 44278 87%149$90,120$232,700$185 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Youngstown, OH 44514 87%184$79,808$205,500$161 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45248 87%252$84,510$217,100$172 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Milton, WI 53563 87%282$89,528$293,800$229 smaller · newer homes
Paola, KS 66071 87%666$84,142$262,500$172 smaller
Plattsmouth, NE 68048 87%655$89,931$261,600$162 smaller · newer homes
Dallas, PA 18612 86%391$93,750$259,300$178 more apartments and townhomes
Wellington, OH 44090 86%121$76,906$248,000$175 smaller
Hartville, OH 44632 86%160$91,061$267,500$199 smaller
Germantown, OH 45327 86%218$94,741$218,900$181 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Martinsville, IN 46151 86%274$78,812$242,200$164 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Elizabeth, PA 15037 85%248$77,579$165,900$172 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller

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.