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 Stanley, NY 14561

Stanley: median income $77,857, home value $195,700, $152/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Park, IA 51347 96%917$82,750$201,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Hanska, MN 56041 94%874$80,833$197,700$151 smaller
Andrews, IN 46702 93%457$77,727$158,300$143 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Grace, ID 83241 93%1,746$71,298$215,200$182 Very close on everything we compare
Swayzee, IN 46986 92%477$79,438$162,600$112 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Harmony, MN 55939 92%751$70,855$198,800$120 Very close on everything we compare
Alden, MN 56009 92%829$80,804$203,700$108 Very close on everything we compare
Howard, SD 57349 92%1,026$75,179$153,000$130 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Kingsville, OH 44048 91%192$78,690$175,000$167 5 min longer commute
Merrill, IA 51038 91%967$95,893$183,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
Mead, NE 68041 91%998$74,000$251,300— pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Pilot Rock, OR 97868 91%2,054$91,813$218,200$165 Very close on everything we compare
Nevada, OH 44849 90%339$69,902$145,700$166 cheaper homes ($50K less)
New Riegel, OH 44853 90%341$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($40K less)
Rockford, OH 45882 90%416$74,625$161,700$143 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Tekonsha, MI 49092 90%404$64,211$156,400$126 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Palmyra, MI 49268 90%354$80,833$164,600$176 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Adair, IA 50002 90%900$79,071$237,700$139 pricier homes ($42K more) · more renters
Hartley, IA 51346 90%926$72,426$156,800$127 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Elkader, IA 52043 90%723$76,705$165,000$131 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Sherburn, MN 56171 90%886$72,554$169,800$122 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Leetonia, OH 44431 89%231$68,750$184,200$131 larger
East Sparta, OH 44626 89%264$78,929$185,800$159 older residents · newer homes
Berlin Heights, OH 44814 89%294$68,702$193,600$143 younger residents · newer homes
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 89%420$77,083$208,700$140 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.