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 Cherry Valley, NY 13320

Cherry Valley: median income $86,204, home value $184,600, $126/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedar Bluffs, NE 68015 94%1,120$85,357$176,600$119 smaller
Ladoga, IN 47954 93%655$81,364$188,200$140 Very close on everything we compare
Tripoli, IA 50676 93%887$87,115$154,500$144 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Jewell, IA 50130 92%961$78,594$169,000$125 Very close on everything we compare
Elizabeth, IL 61028 92%786$86,053$174,400$118 more renters
Barnesville, PA 18214 91%152$82,375$208,000$163 Very close on everything we compare
Mulliken, MI 48861 91%515$89,412$184,600$157 newer homes
Thorntown, IN 46071 90%640$85,000$240,200$154 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Fowler, MI 48835 90%507$81,964$214,400$158 pricier homes ($30K more)
Centerville, SD 57014 90%1,121$77,000$261,400$139 pricier homes ($77K more)
Kenesaw, NE 68956 89%1,238$94,231$203,700$123 smaller · newer homes
Fredericktown, PA 15333 88%333$89,333$185,600$112 5 min longer commute
West Alexander, PA 15376 88%351$86,607$218,900$121 pricier homes ($34K more)
Cranesville, PA 16410 88%290$83,977$201,800$160 newer homes
Barrackville, WV 26559 88%362$73,229$166,900$145 newer homes
Elmore, OH 43416 88%446$88,611$197,100$158 younger residents
Ogden, IA 50212 88%982$81,838$221,300$150 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Gowrie, IA 50543 88%994$91,563$155,100— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Amboy, MN 56010 88%977$80,156$167,900$111 smaller
Elmwood, IL 61529 88%793$91,661$164,800$111 more renters
Woodville, OH 43469 87%451$86,410$205,500$161 more renters
Munger, MI 48747 87%457$81,458$141,300$109 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Delmar, IA 52037 87%810$90,813$198,400$91 smaller
Glenbeulah, WI 53023 87%675$87,222$231,900$174 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · newer homes
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 87%898$85,114$232,500$146 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes

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.