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 West Salem, IL 62476

West Salem: median income $65,543, home value $91,800, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mahaffey, PA 15757 95%519$56,176$105,600— Very close on everything we compare
Hermansville, MI 49847 93%497$66,250$115,800$200 younger residents
Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935 92%854$57,542$119,000$132 pricier homes ($27K more)
Cooperstown, PA 16317 91%477$57,768$115,000$138 Very close on everything we compare
Braymer, MO 64624 91%319$58,095$95,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Regis Falls, NY 12980 90%814$60,938$106,500$110 younger residents
Altmar, NY 13302 90%714$55,341$107,300$289 Very close on everything we compare
Kennerdell, PA 16374 90%478$57,829$128,800$171 pricier homes ($37K more)
Coalport, PA 16627 90%527$64,013$92,800— larger · younger residents
Hale, MO 64643 90%296$56,688$113,000$141 younger residents
Moro, AR 72368 90%306$66,719$110,300$69 Very close on everything we compare
Tionesta, PA 16353 89%501$56,034$121,000$104 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Sardis, OH 43946 89%388$62,832$127,700$209 pricier homes ($36K more)
Mc Donough, NY 13801 88%699$69,375$129,300$249 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Avonmore, PA 15618 88%474$61,579$113,800$40 larger
Cherry Tree, PA 15724 88%511$67,500$110,100$102 larger · 7 min longer commute
Penfield, PA 15849 88%533$60,096$108,200$182 6 min shorter commute
Austin, PA 16720 88%566$49,479$99,900$199 Very close on everything we compare
Frenchville, PA 16836 88%548$62,841$131,700$210 pricier homes ($40K more) · newer homes
Ivanhoe, VA 24350 88%402$54,219$97,400$208 Very close on everything we compare
Noxapater, MS 39346 88%388$62,439$99,600— Very close on everything we compare
Baxter, KY 40806 88%280$59,837$99,700$39 younger residents
Twining, MI 48766 88%443$56,583$112,200$121 younger residents
Sidney Center, NY 13839 87%716$54,271$121,300$161 pricier homes ($30K more)
Central City, PA 15926 87%501$62,019$106,400$130 larger

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.