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 Burton, MI 48509

Burton: median income $64,160, home value $135,800, $134/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Leechburg, PA 15656 91%263$68,311$162,600$122 pricier homes ($27K more)
Fairmount, IN 46928 91%209$67,412$126,300$104 smaller
Albany, IN 47320 91%207$69,764$137,500$120 smaller
Hagerstown, IN 47346 91%229$70,000$144,300$114 smaller
Veedersburg, IN 47987 91%276$63,333$145,200$113 smaller
West Newton, PA 15089 90%278$60,533$164,500$159 pricier homes ($29K more)
Narrows, VA 24124 90%420$62,854$116,500$158 smaller · younger residents
East Canton, OH 44730 89%195$70,232$154,200$168 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, IN 47356 89%229$67,049$167,800$124 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Bayard, NE 69334 89%1,007$62,232$126,100$133 smaller
Mckeesport, PA 15133 88%267$65,938$97,500$100 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Conneaut, OH 44030 88%172$63,533$145,800$139 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Crestline, OH 44827 88%161$56,757$125,900$148 Very close on everything we compare
New Paris, OH 45347 88%227$63,025$136,700$106 smaller
Elwood, IN 46036 88%222$62,074$117,700$118 more renters
North Manchester, IN 46962 88%179$67,984$159,600$135 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Osawatomie, KS 66064 88%671$67,321$172,100$164 pricier homes ($36K more)
Angola, NY 14006 87%232$65,972$166,600$184 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Saltsburg, PA 15681 87%276$73,130$155,600$110 smaller
Reynoldsville, PA 15851 87%276$63,158$119,300$141 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403 87%200$69,851$153,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
Union City, PA 16438 87%207$65,000$146,600$158 more apartments and townhomes
Gibsonburg, OH 43431 87%115$77,526$151,300$165 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Rayland, OH 43943 87%245$54,784$135,500$125 smaller
Knightstown, IN 46148 87%244$63,914$186,800$128 pricier homes ($51K more) · 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.