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.

Reset

Towns most like Petersburg, MI 49270

Petersburg: median income $94,840, home value $297,600, $171/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seville, OH 44273 95%112$96,431$275,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 94%389$97,896$303,200$175 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, OH 44216 94%127$98,776$236,300$203 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Somerville, OH 45064 94%168$102,531$240,200$152 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Kouts, IN 46347 94%177$95,348$255,400$173 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Fremont, WI 54940 94%307$90,813$307,100$208 Very close on everything we compare
Delanson, NY 12053 93%489$91,991$266,600$230 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Auburn, PA 17922 93%402$99,260$257,100$163 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Fincastle, VA 24090 93%365$90,521$286,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia Station, OH 44028 93%98$87,595$331,700$204 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Diamond, OH 44412 93%147$102,726$282,300$168 smaller
Canterbury, CT 06331 92%602$103,198$334,200$243 pricier homes ($37K more)
Conestoga, PA 17516 92%405$103,942$313,500$185 Very close on everything we compare
Bernville, PA 19506 92%405$106,422$341,900$192 pricier homes ($44K more)
Preston, MD 21655 92%463$90,385$289,200$221 Very close on everything we compare
Centerburg, OH 43011 92%122$90,121$315,600$205 Very close on everything we compare
Newbury, OH 44065 92%130$95,442$285,800$183 Very close on everything we compare
Jeromesville, OH 44840 92%107$83,021$235,500$173 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Russiaville, IN 46979 92%168$88,832$213,500$153 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Oakdale, CT 06370 91%594$105,700$332,500$231 pricier homes ($35K more)
Elmer, NJ 08318 91%474$92,558$302,000$198 larger
Sutherland, VA 23885 91%459$103,849$283,900$208 smaller · newer homes
Curtice, OH 43412 91%26$107,885$229,300$188 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Grafton, OH 44044 91%94$88,333$257,500$181 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Rolling Prairie, IN 46371 91%150$99,830$256,000$161 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 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.