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 Olean, NY 14760

Olean: median income $54,929, home value $94,600, $96/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Altoona, PA 16602 90%109$55,046$125,700$93 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Galesburg, IL 61401 88%622$50,546$100,600$91 larger · newer homes
Virginia, MN 55792 87%786$53,750$129,500$87 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · newer homes
Warren, PA 16365 85%42$59,206$122,500$90 pricier homes ($28K more)
Dunbar, WV 25064 85%311$57,263$119,900$116 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · newer homes
Keokuk, IA 52632 85%683$56,653$118,700$79 newer homes
Quincy, IL 62301 85%691$52,055$135,100$111 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · newer homes
Peoria, IL 61604 84%588$52,414$100,300$89 larger · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18508 83%149$49,895$145,400$115 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Nanticoke, PA 18634 83%139$61,439$111,700$108 7 min longer commute
Charleston, WV 25302 83%304$55,210$155,300$93 pricier homes ($61K more)
Danville, IL 61832 83%497$47,332$82,400$91 larger · newer homes
Mattoon, IL 61938 83%550$57,503$111,700$107 newer homes
Ambridge, PA 15003 82%138$59,550$134,500$116 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Altoona, PA 16601 82%108$58,070$147,200$88 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Bradford, PA 16701 82%15$65,102$106,700$95 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Scranton, PA 18505 82%150$52,398$156,700$121 pricier homes ($62K more) · 5 min longer commute
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 82%145$59,344$140,700$118 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Clarksburg, WV 26301 82%218$49,816$133,300$107 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Akron, OH 44301 82%175$51,321$104,700$105 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Clinton, IA 52732 82%605$61,105$122,100$95 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Freeport, IL 61032 82%574$56,593$112,300$91 larger · newer homes
Rock Island, IL 61201 82%626$59,396$125,600$121 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Arkansas City, KS 67005 82%1,047$54,516$95,400$87 less walkable · newer homes
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 81%149$56,378$131,900$109 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute

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.