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 Bolivar, NY 14715

Bolivar: median income $55,640, home value $80,500, $66/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belle, WV 25015 91%319$56,681$98,100$63 larger
Mullens, WV 25882 90%354$57,500$78,400$85 Very close on everything we compare
Grayville, IL 62844 90%583$47,625$79,200— Very close on everything we compare
Tatum, NM 88267 90%1,498$52,250$111,400— pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 89%48$68,347$79,200— Very close on everything we compare
Mingo Junction, OH 43938 89%177$55,446$101,300$70 larger
White Hall, IL 62092 89%666$56,607$69,100$95 Very close on everything we compare
Christopher, IL 62822 89%642$47,770$67,600$52 Very close on everything we compare
Laurens, IA 50554 87%852$63,802$82,800$68 smaller · more single-family homes
Sedan, KS 67361 87%1,016$53,917$64,400— newer homes
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 86%103$52,500$102,500$92 larger
Georgetown, IL 61846 86%515$60,871$85,700$68 larger
Grant City, MO 64456 86%850$48,611$92,000— smaller
Kane, PA 16735 85%44$57,489$93,900$89 larger · more walkable
Charleston, WV 25315 85%320$55,083$90,200$98 Very close on everything we compare
Summitville, IN 46070 85%407$57,667$117,300$78 pricier homes ($37K more) · more homeowners
Ridgeville, IN 47380 85%379$57,000$99,900$65 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, IA 50833 85%864$61,042$112,900$69 pricier homes ($32K more)
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 85%607$62,250$106,700$82 pricier homes ($26K more)
Lovington, IL 61937 85%571$61,295$99,700$84 Very close on everything we compare
Winchester, IL 62694 85%665$58,460$102,200$59 older residents · newer homes
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 85%978$57,361$85,900— smaller
Lincoln, KS 67455 85%1,070$56,635$69,900$71 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Wymore, NE 68466 85%972$61,574$87,300$80 more single-family homes
Anton, TX 79313 85%1,422$62,788$74,300$78 smaller · 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.