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 Muskegon, MI 49440

Muskegon: median income $46,808, home value $176,400, $193/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Taftville, CT 06380 68%733$63,452$194,300$182 larger · 9 min longer commute · older homes
Columbus, GA 31901 67%747$51,424$226,500$132 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · older residents
Troy, NY 12183 63%635$59,406$138,300$110 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Duluth, MN 55805 63%377$43,100$189,400$188 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
New York Mills, NY 13417 62%552$59,453$205,500$169 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43203 62%282$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger · more walkable
Albany, NY 12206 61%632$41,548$162,300$112 larger · more walkable
Schenectady, NY 12305 61%622$53,326$217,500$213 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Albany, NY 12202 60%632$52,868$166,000$118 larger · 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Calcium, NY 13616 60%523$45,962$144,400$182 cheaper homes ($32K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73105 60%802$50,102$162,000$185 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Willimantic, CT 06226 59%722$47,162$190,000$186 larger · 7 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12210 59%632$55,843$228,100$142 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Roanoke, VA 24016 59%529$46,512$119,700$129 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · more walkable
Jackson, MS 39202 59%784$38,554$222,100$135 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Duluth, MN 55806 59%377$42,833$161,400$150 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Little Rock, AR 72202 59%670$50,899$262,500$149 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · more walkable
Buffalo, NY 14201 57%372$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · more walkable
Scranton, PA 18510 57%556$53,235$181,600$117 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 57%160$46,854$184,800$150 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Omaha, NE 68131 57%515$48,925$227,200$161 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · more walkable
Springfield, MA 01107 56%697$35,632$243,600$187 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 56%376$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Reading, PA 19611 56%567$63,331$176,200$190 larger · more homeowners
Wilmington, DE 19801 56%604$52,810$199,900$143 larger · 8 min longer commute · 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.