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 48638

Saginaw: median income $69,459, home value $172,600, $113/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charleston, WV 25313 93%366$64,385$156,100$121 Very close on everything we compare
Vicksburg, MS 39183 92%849$73,946$157,300$118 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesburg, PA 15370 91%315$65,511$192,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Youngstown, OH 44512 91%239$63,317$170,700$137 larger
Pittston, PA 18640 90%444$60,862$147,500$116 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Pittston, PA 18643 90%441$63,125$174,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
South Charleston, WV 25309 90%370$57,937$158,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35235 90%692$63,295$194,500$108 larger
Crookston, MN 56716 90%677$59,744$196,100$110 6 min shorter commute
Johnstown, PA 15904 89%343$67,394$176,200$124 Very close on everything we compare
Carbondale, PA 18407 89%451$59,652$162,800$108 older homes
Spartanburg, SC 29307 89%595$65,850$221,400$139 pricier homes ($49K more)
Clinton, SC 29325 89%630$60,259$177,400$126 younger residents
South Bend, IN 46637 89%164$71,462$207,100$154 pricier homes ($35K more)
Valley City, ND 58072 89%722$64,375$177,800$108 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Owego, NY 13827 88%404$72,769$156,400$131 older homes
Milton, PA 17847 88%403$58,775$197,100$137 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36693 88%913$68,933$210,200$128 pricier homes ($38K more) · more single-family homes
Greenville, IL 62246 88%421$66,970$159,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Groton, NY 13073 87%391$71,452$167,600$137 smaller · more homeowners
Duncansville, PA 16635 87%354$69,760$192,100$113 more homeowners
Charleston, WV 25311 87%373$62,800$137,200$127 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Huntington, WV 25705 87%358$61,329$165,300$114 larger · younger residents
Keyser, WV 26726 87%382$70,944$171,600$131 more homeowners
Orangeburg, SC 29118 87%702$64,167$176,600$155 newer homes

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.