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 Erie, KS 66733

Erie: median income $52,667, home value $147,200, $67/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Strattanville, PA 16258 93%885$55,188$183,800— pricier homes ($37K more)
Sharon, TN 38255 92%366$45,990$110,400$72 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Goshen, AL 36035 91%655$53,125$113,700$82 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Hazel, KY 42049 91%388$52,917$189,900$75 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Moulton, TX 77975 91%565$59,786$184,900$81 pricier homes ($38K more)
Allen, MI 49227 90%632$53,587$159,000— smaller · 6 min longer commute
Albany, MO 64402 90%190$54,444$111,900— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Bangs, TX 76823 90%461$55,156$139,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Brockport, PA 15823 89%917$51,125$146,100— smaller · older residents
Avis, PA 17721 89%987$59,073$140,800$102 Very close on everything we compare
New Rockford, ND 58356 89%723$51,042$123,500— Very close on everything we compare
Wyoming, IL 61491 89%377$62,500$119,900$75 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Hamilton, IL 62341 89%285$62,262$136,900$70 larger
Appleton City, MO 64724 89%78$49,338$115,600$86 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Burwell, NE 68823 89%355$61,974$174,100— pricier homes ($27K more)
Brasher Falls, NY 13613 88%1,173$58,846$116,600$83 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Norwood, NY 13668 88%1,159$63,393$115,400$60 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Beverly, WV 26253 88%839$65,843$124,400$89 Very close on everything we compare
Ailey, GA 30410 88%813$68,036$125,000— Very close on everything we compare
Red Bay, AL 35582 88%454$48,235$117,900$64 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more renters
Jonesboro, IL 62952 88%327$64,097$118,600$88 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Princeton, ME 04668 87%1,517$48,720$117,700— cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Manns Choice, PA 15550 87%908$53,750$160,800$100 5 min longer commute
Stewardson, IL 62463 87%376$58,214$138,500— smaller
Stanberry, MO 64489 87%185$54,519$167,900$85 younger residents

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.