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 Spring Grove, MN 55974

Spring Grove: median income $59,205, home value $186,300, $104/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Summerville, PA 15864 92%658$65,859$141,400$109 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Rural Valley, PA 16249 92%659$68,214$164,400$100 Very close on everything we compare
East Brady, PA 16028 91%639$62,750$162,200$114 younger residents
West Union, WV 26456 91%634$58,000$164,400— larger
Fayette City, PA 15438 90%652$53,917$145,500$121 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Cameron, WV 26033 90%626$55,972$153,600— cheaper homes ($33K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mayport, PA 16240 89%656$58,281$142,400$135 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Jewett, OH 43986 89%589$54,375$150,000$99 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Perryopolis, PA 15473 88%656$69,438$201,700$126 larger
Stoneboro, PA 16153 88%607$63,750$149,300— cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Galeton, PA 16922 88%721$67,063$158,800$109 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Millerton, PA 16936 88%751$62,895$189,800$100 newer homes
Weatherly, PA 18255 88%827$69,034$189,600$125 larger
Galien, MI 49113 88%287$59,219$171,600$117 Very close on everything we compare
Springport, MI 49284 88%360$57,500$153,200$142 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Greene, IA 50636 88%75$70,066$154,700$86 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 88%116$61,875$167,500$140 younger residents
Yorktown, TX 78164 88%1,058$67,578$171,300$101 larger · newer homes
Salem, NY 12865 87%918$71,983$192,900$136 larger
Boswell, PA 15531 87%688$60,855$137,500$128 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · newer homes
Marion Center, PA 15759 87%673$57,132$168,600$119 younger residents · newer homes
Herndon, PA 17830 87%785$73,942$194,600$110 Very close on everything we compare
North English, IA 52316 87%143$60,768$150,600$94 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Schenevus, NY 12155 86%850$62,361$164,700$110 more homeowners
Richfield, PA 17086 86%769$61,875$194,200$107 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.