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 Park Falls, WI 54552

Park Falls: median income $61,317, home value $150,700, $116/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Guttenberg, IA 52052 94%222$61,528$197,400$120 pricier homes ($47K more)
Sodus, NY 14551 92%683$59,167$123,500$128 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Albion, PA 16401 92%575$70,052$162,600$123 Very close on everything we compare
Normalville, PA 15469 91%689$56,301$140,100— smaller
Dewey, OK 74029 91%692$57,821$151,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Carmichaels, PA 15320 90%673$64,213$146,500$113 Very close on everything we compare
Linesville, PA 16424 90%579$56,186$128,500$103 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisville, MI 48740 90%355$54,393$155,800$133 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Tawas City, MI 48763 90%355$59,677$162,400$149 younger residents
Grayling, MI 49738 90%292$59,708$168,800$145 larger
Gilbert, MN 55741 90%142$69,545$164,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Edinburg, PA 16116 89%603$69,559$130,800$112 smaller · more homeowners
Tionesta, PA 16353 89%630$56,034$121,000$104 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Catlettsburg, KY 41129 89%656$60,885$151,500$111 larger · younger residents
Au Gres, MI 48703 89%354$64,792$172,100$160 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, MI 49011 89%370$59,722$158,600$139 smaller · younger residents
Onaway, MI 49765 89%303$57,404$124,000$154 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
East Dubuque, IL 61025 89%238$70,739$197,800$126 pricier homes ($47K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Hanna City, IL 61536 89%365$74,249$172,300$123 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, ME 04457 88%1,056$56,645$146,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Granville, NY 12832 88%858$68,929$153,000$114 younger residents
Boswell, PA 15531 88%698$60,855$137,500$128 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Transfer, PA 16154 88%593$57,870$167,000$106 smaller · more homeowners
Polk, PA 16342 88%612$63,750$114,700$123 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Coudersport, PA 16915 88%683$61,781$181,800$130 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute

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.