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 Manistee, MI 49660

Manistee: median income $65,205, home value $192,800, $157/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Marys, PA 15857 94%433$67,662$150,100$161 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Montoursville, PA 17754 94%514$72,633$249,300$156 pricier homes ($57K more)
Hubbard, OH 44425 94%356$61,568$145,200$155 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Manchester, IA 52057 93%292$69,635$184,300$142 smaller
Rhinelander, WI 54501 93%186$68,163$203,900$183 newer homes
Bedford, PA 15522 92%491$57,029$197,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Wellsboro, PA 16901 92%481$67,146$237,100$139 pricier homes ($44K more)
Coudersport, PA 16915 92%449$61,781$181,800$130 smaller
Olyphant, PA 18447 92%569$66,677$207,900$150 smaller
Caldwell, OH 43724 92%393$64,688$170,400$145 smaller
Two Rivers, WI 54241 92%70$61,014$156,300$146 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Merrill, WI 54452 92%184$67,669$173,900$145 Very close on everything we compare
Monticello, IN 47960 91%244$65,603$192,700$167 7 min longer commute
Princeton, IL 61356 91%259$68,243$152,900$128 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Du Bois, PA 15801 90%435$67,583$181,800$151 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16105 90%371$65,855$183,500$137 6 min longer commute
Oakland, MD 21550 90%486$64,921$233,300$196 pricier homes ($41K more) · newer homes
Akron, OH 44319 90%328$79,221$196,600$172 Very close on everything we compare
Cortland, OH 44410 90%343$70,385$197,700$151 newer homes
Rochester, IN 46975 90%221$61,185$157,600$145 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Ripon, WI 54971 90%135$66,699$193,000$189 younger residents
Anaconda, MT 59711 90%1,305$58,157$237,200$189 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Penn Yan, NY 14527 89%471$70,758$194,700$210 younger residents
Latrobe, PA 15650 89%441$63,305$181,700$196 larger
Hermitage, PA 16148 89%358$70,490$197,900$154 Very close on everything we compare

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.