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 Phelps, NY 14532

Phelps: median income $81,923, home value $170,500, $163/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monroeville, OH 44847 93%314$76,060$187,500$157 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IA 50468 88%802$73,403$173,700— smaller
Brandon, WI 53919 87%592$97,019$223,400$150 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Gibsonburg, OH 43431 86%340$77,526$151,300$165 newer homes
Rockford, OH 45882 86%423$74,625$161,700$143 newer homes
Greens Fork, IN 47345 86%465$73,750$155,600$136 smaller
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 86%901$80,119$149,700$111 smaller
Guthrie Center, IA 50115 86%894$73,848$147,900$156 older residents · newer homes
Tripoli, IA 50676 86%769$87,115$154,500$144 smaller
Elkader, IA 52043 86%726$76,705$165,000$131 smaller · newer homes
Wolcott, IN 47995 85%535$80,179$161,800$133 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Blissfield, MI 49228 85%357$82,703$196,500$179 pricier homes ($26K more) · 9 min longer commute
Northwood, IA 50459 85%815$71,618$149,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Glidden, IA 51443 85%900$78,906$191,000$139 smaller · newer homes
Madelia, MN 56062 85%872$76,713$182,500$142 7 min longer commute
Leigh, NE 68643 84%1,032$77,125$156,900— smaller
Randolph, NE 68771 84%1,030$83,580$162,500— smaller
Genoa, OH 43430 83%337$73,807$156,700$138 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Woodville, OH 43469 83%340$86,410$205,500$161 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 83%427$77,083$208,700$140 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · newer homes
Convoy, OH 45832 83%419$83,000$161,200$186 newer homes
Preston, IA 52069 83%682$75,313$169,500$155 smaller · newer homes
Ossian, IA 52161 83%743$87,870$171,400$182 smaller · newer homes
Attica, OH 44807 82%327$87,356$153,200$120 smaller · older residents
New Washington, OH 44854 82%329$70,357$146,200$134 smaller

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.