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 Elba, NY 14058

Elba: median income $102,750, home value $151,500, $179/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Helena, OH 43435 91%290$89,000$176,400$167 smaller
Ossian, IA 52161 91%685$87,870$171,400$182 smaller
Canistota, SD 57012 91%959$94,375$180,200$199 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Convoy, OH 45832 90%368$83,000$161,200$186 Very close on everything we compare
Sully, IA 50251 90%756$91,061$186,200$153 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Mapleton, MN 56065 90%792$92,933$223,100$146 pricier homes ($72K more)
Orion, IL 61273 90%636$99,032$187,400$171 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Bringhurst, IN 46913 89%465$91,136$171,800$183 smaller
Hope, IN 47246 89%474$94,375$197,800$188 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Malta, IL 60150 87%551$86,719$188,400$200 pricier homes ($37K more)
Hegins, PA 17938 86%189$93,722$219,000$151 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Wayne, OH 43466 86%298$87,438$177,400$208 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
North Lawrence, OH 44666 86%236$101,310$220,000$194 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents
Leipsic, OH 45856 86%328$86,494$165,100$117 larger
West Bend, IA 50597 86%821$92,000$179,700— pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Alexandria, SD 57311 86%982$103,839$186,800$188 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older residents
Minier, IL 61759 86%602$91,591$161,700$114 smaller
Elmore, OH 43416 85%284$88,611$197,100$158 pricier homes ($46K more)
Hamlet, IN 46532 85%446$84,866$145,100$138 Very close on everything we compare
Grundy Center, IA 50638 85%742$85,223$185,200$135 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Shell Rock, IA 50670 85%729$84,679$171,500$134 older residents
Mc Cool Junction, NE 68401 85%1,009$111,500$196,600$168 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Weeping Water, NE 68463 85%934$85,972$199,500$128 pricier homes ($48K more)
White Deer, TX 79097 85%1,334$88,182$144,600— smaller
Richland, PA 17087 84%211$93,150$225,200$219 pricier homes ($74K more) · older 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.