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 Saginaw, MI 48607

Saginaw: median income $37,973, home value $73,800, $21/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Youngstown, OH 44504 66%231$45,299$77,500$43 larger · more single-family homes
Topeka, KS 66603 57%680$44,688$107,900$45 pricier homes ($34K more) · more renters · more walkable
Burns Flat, OK 73624 54%985$45,491$106,700— pricier homes ($33K more) · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Muncie, IN 47305 51%236$36,389$77,800$71 larger · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44127 50%179$32,572$44,400$29 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Pitcairn, PA 15140 49%299$36,419$59,300$35 larger · older residents · 12 min longer commute
Gary, IN 46402 47%215$33,529$85,400$60 larger · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Minersville, PA 17954 45%436$53,806$83,300$64 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39203 45%840$26,569$53,000$29 larger · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Pippa Passes, KY 41844 44%424$31,690$73,900— younger residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63120 44%464$35,176$53,500$44 larger · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Weldon, NC 27890 43%589$36,875$94,800— older residents · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Elmira, NY 14901 42%373$40,989$93,800$65 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Mahanoy City, PA 17948 42%438$47,813$55,100$58 larger · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Itta Bena, MS 38941 42%769$38,705$91,100$41 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Mansfield, OH 44902 42%199$31,343$62,300$56 larger · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63115 42%464$30,622$75,600$29 larger · older residents · 11 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35204 41%703$35,420$89,300$42 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Ashland, MT 59003 41%1,108$44,833$76,400— older residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Seagraves, TX 79359 41%1,241$53,048$89,000$36 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Herlong, CA 96113 41%1,866$67,083$73,900— higher income ($29K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Ruleville, MS 38771 40%759$33,547$86,100$38 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Jackson, MS 39204 40%843$30,237$69,500$30 larger · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Window Rock, AZ 86515 40%1,436$47,336$57,100— larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Erie, PA 16503 39%216$32,340$64,600$58 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable

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.