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 Duluth, MN 55810

Duluth: median income $84,719, home value $241,600, $193/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Doylestown, OH 44230 94%661$79,526$229,000$189 Very close on everything we compare
Bellevue, IA 52031 93%324$86,674$244,600$152 smaller
Kiel, WI 53042 93%285$86,389$239,400$205 Very close on everything we compare
Shiner, TX 77984 93%1,226$92,656$213,100$178 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Whitehall, MI 49461 92%371$83,363$265,300$218 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, IL 62707 92%495$89,926$174,600$142 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Oostburg, WI 53070 91%307$91,557$282,000$194 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Centre Hall, PA 16828 90%833$76,468$273,800$192 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
Mount Wolf, PA 17347 90%905$98,261$254,300$167 6 min longer commute
East Petersburg, PA 17520 90%919$93,235$265,700$211 smaller
Williamstown, WV 26187 90%745$83,226$198,300$145 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Bottineau, ND 58318 90%405$85,729$220,600$176 smaller · more renters
Ontario, NY 14519 89%769$85,532$234,600$209 larger · less walkable
Houston, PA 15342 89%752$92,402$247,300$165 smaller
Lima, OH 45806 89%584$82,587$212,400$171 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
Minster, OH 45865 89%591$89,000$286,300$177 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · younger residents
Livonia, NY 14487 88%765$89,688$228,100$242 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Girard, PA 16417 88%675$88,041$190,300$141 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Marysville, PA 17053 88%883$82,269$227,500$189 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Montoursville, PA 17754 88%851$72,633$249,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Leesport, PA 19533 88%922$105,179$313,600$183 pricier homes ($72K more)
Castle Hayne, NC 28429 88%1,139$72,337$239,200$214 newer homes
Kingsport, TN 37663 88%871$76,007$238,900$169 larger
Oregon, OH 43616 88%561$81,829$204,500$169 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more renters
Northwood, OH 43619 88%562$76,537$182,000$166 cheaper homes ($60K less)

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.