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 Flint, MI 48532

Flint: median income $61,998, home value $169,200, $109/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lock Haven, PA 17745 94%351$58,555$177,100$120 Very close on everything we compare
Pittston, PA 18640 93%427$60,862$147,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Milton, PA 17847 92%383$58,775$197,100$137 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46229 92%250$61,388$191,100$137 larger
Waynesburg, PA 15370 91%286$65,511$192,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, SC 29325 91%599$60,259$177,400$126 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, OH 44146 91%162$54,925$155,000$146 larger
Kansas City, MO 64138 91%622$58,638$188,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Fulton, NY 13069 90%373$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Carbondale, PA 18407 90%435$59,652$162,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45449 90%232$63,800$163,500$134 younger residents
Clarksville, IN 47129 90%341$56,185$170,600$139 5 min shorter commute
Rockford, IL 61108 90%270$64,415$144,800$133 larger
East Moline, IL 61244 90%354$63,819$139,400$129 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Beaumont, TX 77708 90%1,057$56,586$158,500$109 smaller
Canton, OH 44709 89%195$57,842$161,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, OH 45503 89%211$59,595$168,200$154 larger
Shelbyville, IN 46176 89%263$65,182$194,400$137 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Terre Haute, IN 47802 89%311$57,395$170,200$136 larger
Lincoln, IL 62656 89%349$62,017$141,600$109 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Park Hills, MO 63601 89%500$54,753$126,300$130 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Little Rock, AR 72206 89%733$52,132$142,000$120 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Newark, NY 14513 88%339$65,309$150,300$121 Very close on everything we compare
Uniontown, PA 15401 88%302$53,925$155,600$123 larger · older homes
Clearfield, PA 16830 88%307$58,304$130,300$110 cheaper homes ($39K 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.