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 Waterville, NY 13480

Waterville: median income $85,435, home value $179,200, $115/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cressona, PA 17929 89%165$73,424$156,100$122 smaller
Carey, OH 43316 86%433$78,828$167,300$110 larger · newer homes
Monona, IA 52159 86%808$74,259$165,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Midland, PA 15059 85%306$66,231$137,500$131 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Blossburg, PA 16912 85%123$69,982$148,400$120 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Dwight, IL 60420 85%680$71,157$167,100$151 newer homes
Ashton, IL 61006 85%709$75,938$155,500$107 smaller
Oglesby, IL 61348 85%709$76,369$146,800$143 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Oakland, NE 68045 85%1,076$75,893$163,100$73 smaller
Lykens, PA 17048 84%176$73,993$144,200$83 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min longer commute
Monroeville, OH 44847 84%394$76,060$187,500$157 more single-family homes
Reinbeck, IA 50669 84%875$81,650$183,000$87 more single-family homes · newer homes
Oakland, IA 51560 84%1,028$75,481$177,100$123 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Missouri Valley, IA 51555 83%1,051$85,273$188,700$145 newer homes
Preston, IA 52069 83%766$75,313$169,500$155 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Calmar, IA 52132 83%833$100,559$231,600$124 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · newer homes
Stanton, NE 68779 83%1,113$78,594$203,300$106 more single-family homes · newer homes
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 82%985$80,119$149,700$111 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · younger residents
Manly, IA 50456 82%898$81,339$124,700$119 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · newer homes
Webster City, IA 50595 82%935$69,167$153,800$116 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · newer homes
Neola, IA 51559 82%1,041$74,761$201,800$123 smaller · more single-family homes
Madelia, MN 56062 82%955$76,713$182,500$142 younger residents · more homeowners
Aledo, IL 61231 82%796$70,991$147,600$93 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Elmwood, IL 61529 82%762$91,661$164,800$111 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Chenoa, IL 61726 82%702$77,800$135,800$112 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 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.