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 Ellicottville, NY 14731

Ellicottville: median income $67,583, home value $286,800, $287/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 87%348$63,464$346,700$288 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Panacea, FL 32346 84%906$61,700$267,200$257 larger · 7 min longer commute
Crumpler, NC 28617 83%429$62,204$244,600$271 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 6 min longer commute
Ludlow, VT 05149 82%311$64,191$365,300$300 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · younger residents
Renfrew, PA 16053 82%123$76,054$297,500$218 larger
Dove Creek, CO 81324 81%1,622$71,630$223,100— cheaper homes ($64K less) · more single-family homes
Crawford, CO 81415 81%1,534$59,141$330,900$333 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Bokeelia, FL 33922 80%1,098$71,164$355,800$269 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Okoboji, IA 51355 80%837$72,262$421,100$340 pricier homes ($134K more)
Hagerman, ID 83332 80%1,830$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Center Conway, NH 03813 79%400$56,951$252,200$330 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440 79%218$74,818$297,100$317 larger · more single-family homes
Egg Harbor, WI 54209 79%470$77,188$386,700$335 pricier homes ($100K more) · more homeowners
Bayfield, WI 54814 79%675$63,682$250,000$268 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Juliaetta, ID 83535 79%1,882$57,647$293,800$272 7 min longer commute
Craig, AK 99921 79%2,560$64,250$302,900$257 younger residents
North Woodstock, NH 03262 78%371$85,667$319,800$273 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
North Conway, NH 03860 78%398$71,759$401,500$281 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · more renters
Bracey, VA 23919 78%396$66,750$300,000$203 larger · 9 min longer commute · newer homes
Cedar Key, FL 32625 78%939$60,298$322,700$279 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Saint James City, FL 33956 78%1,107$69,534$318,200$410 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Otis, OR 97368 78%2,241$61,821$325,700$294 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
Arapahoe, NC 28510 77%513$58,839$264,100$240 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Shelby, AL 35143 77%769$72,500$220,000$214 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Thompson Falls, MT 59873 77%1,814$60,000$305,900$277 larger · more single-family 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.