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 Dayton, PA 16222

Dayton: median income $64,688, home value $158,400, $138/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kimbolton, OH 43749 89%130$65,565$159,200$137 older residents
Hardinsburg, IN 47125 89%410$73,421$169,500$142 smaller · newer homes
Vermontville, MI 49096 89%320$73,929$188,500$117 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Lynchburg, OH 45142 88%266$66,844$167,100$165 older residents
Vestaburg, MI 48891 88%337$51,429$158,700$136 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, MO 63530 88%697$72,500$150,600$167 smaller
Murray, IA 50174 87%765$67,250$132,400$122 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Greenwood, WI 54437 87%634$67,097$158,500$116 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Winchester, OH 45697 86%269$71,439$205,900$160 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Macy, IN 46951 86%358$55,227$150,300$134 older homes
Lyons, MI 48851 86%324$65,726$158,000$137 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Marydel, MD 21649 85%222$68,542$222,700$151 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · older residents
Perrysville, OH 44864 85%160$66,250$160,500$146 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Medaryville, IN 47957 85%397$61,002$159,400$125 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Blanchard, MI 49310 85%348$64,420$177,700$145 8 min shorter commute
Jamesport, MO 64648 85%765$74,821$107,900$145 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Casar, NC 28020 84%392$59,978$188,700$115 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Campbellsburg, KY 40011 84%353$70,881$173,200$194 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Lewisville, OH 43754 84%129$75,568$149,000$146 smaller · older residents
Malta, OH 43758 84%163$61,397$152,900$134 older residents
Lakeview, MI 48850 84%355$68,047$178,400$168 older residents
Sheridan, MI 48884 84%338$62,750$182,100$178 larger · older residents
Branch, LA 70516 84%1,032$53,750$163,100$126 smaller
Panama, NY 14767 83%82$67,607$143,500$156 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Ballard, WV 24918 83%247$63,594$140,800— smaller · more renters

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.