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 Clarkston, MI 48348

Clarkston: median income $129,410, home value $444,500, $212/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crestwood, KY 40014 96%324$121,189$393,700$187 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Elburn, IL 60119 96%265$130,722$402,300$215 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 95%438$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 94%476$141,711$433,900$228 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Donald, PA 15057 93%232$120,821$355,400$192 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Summerfield, NC 27358 93%489$138,717$444,400$205 smaller
Granville, OH 43023 93%191$142,852$473,100$220 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Prior Lake, MN 55372 93%517$145,499$467,400$206 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, IL 60423 93%242$136,730$398,200$215 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Sharpsburg, GA 30277 92%650$120,379$394,200$196 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Union, KY 41091 92%273$136,307$399,500$193 cheaper homes ($45K less) · newer homes
Sunbury, OH 43074 92%175$119,296$426,100$205 Very close on everything we compare
Bartlett, IL 60103 92%251$133,793$379,000$232 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Eureka, MO 63025 92%479$125,676$391,500$181 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76126 92%1,040$113,905$383,700$200 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Merrimack, NH 03054 91%602$127,303$458,700$264 more apartments and townhomes
Tolland, CT 06084 91%567$133,611$365,200$241 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Oxford, CT 06478 91%535$128,953$472,400$285 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 91%474$157,009$488,100$252 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($44K more)
Landenberg, PA 19350 91%446$144,375$533,000$212 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Schwenksville, PA 19473 91%446$138,819$476,300$248 pricier homes ($32K more)
Forest Hill, MD 21050 91%425$125,208$456,800$204 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, OH 44202 91%145$118,750$375,300$207 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Springboro, OH 45066 91%225$131,250$393,500$181 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Hugo, MN 55038 91%503$130,931$422,800$201 Very close on everything we compare

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.