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 Clinton, IA 52732

Clinton: median income $61,105, home value $122,100, $95/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Altoona, PA 16602 96%621$55,046$125,700$93 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, MD 21502 95%615$60,725$153,700$113 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Peoria, IL 61604 94%84$52,414$100,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Pekin, IL 61554 93%94$65,194$127,600$107 larger
Cleveland, OH 44125 90%444$57,363$116,500$127 younger residents
Altoona, PA 16601 89%620$58,070$147,200$88 pricier homes ($25K more) · less walkable
Springfield, IL 62702 89%143$51,136$103,500$100 Very close on everything we compare
Ambridge, PA 15003 88%526$59,550$134,500$116 smaller · older homes
Clearfield, PA 16830 88%612$58,304$130,300$110 smaller · less walkable
Parkersburg, WV 26101 88%489$48,710$117,500$105 less walkable
Corry, PA 16407 87%542$58,606$134,000$97 smaller
Erie, PA 16504 87%522$56,622$116,400$125 smaller · younger residents
Toledo, OH 43611 87%346$62,042$132,000$145 younger residents
Belleville, IL 62220 87%231$65,952$157,400$112 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min longer commute
New Castle, PA 16101 86%515$51,128$110,600$110 less walkable
Clarksburg, WV 26301 86%547$49,816$133,300$107 less walkable
Bay City, MI 48708 86%343$50,518$107,700$104 Very close on everything we compare
Hibbing, MN 55746 86%407$55,823$134,600$116 smaller · less walkable
Freeport, IL 61032 86%43$56,593$112,300$91 less walkable
Alton, IL 62002 86%203$61,414$118,900$107 less walkable
Dunkirk, NY 14048 85%558$56,431$104,000$83 smaller · less walkable
Tarentum, PA 15084 85%548$63,090$115,800$119 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Warren, PA 16365 85%568$59,206$122,500$90 less walkable
Toledo, OH 43613 85%340$64,384$136,200$132 younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44144 85%438$60,223$149,900$161 pricier homes ($28K more)

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.