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 Elmira, NY 14901

Elmira: median income $40,989, home value $93,800, $65/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Plymouth, PA 18651 91%74$41,990$97,600$79 smaller
Akron, OH 44302 86%254$42,400$134,300$79 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
East Chicago, IN 46312 86%549$42,125$105,400$101 larger
Sharon, PA 16146 85%200$45,670$78,800$54 more single-family homes
Evansville, IN 47713 84%636$40,873$95,900$80 younger residents
Highland Park, MI 48203 84%322$38,404$76,200$70 more walkable
Johnstown, PA 15902 82%165$44,215$65,100$56 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44108 82%250$34,745$67,700$67 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more walkable
Berlin, NH 03570 81%327$45,180$131,000$98 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Gary, IN 46402 81%543$33,529$85,400$60 smaller · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48206 81%323$45,046$116,300$53 7 min longer commute · more walkable
Saint Joseph, MO 64501 81%953$46,731$98,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Youngstown, OH 44504 80%210$45,299$77,500$43 smaller
Muncie, IN 47305 80%465$36,389$77,800$71 smaller · more renters
Rockford, IL 61104 78%628$33,772$90,100$100 younger residents · more renters
Scranton, PA 18508 77%75$49,895$145,400$115 pricier homes ($52K more)
Dayton, OH 45405 77%418$43,973$84,200$74 more renters · more walkable
Canton, OH 44703 76%253$31,957$81,200$88 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63113 76%745$39,913$81,600$48 older residents · more walkable
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 75%247$45,923$103,600$82 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44105 75%252$40,906$61,400$65 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Portsmouth, OH 45662 75%394$36,504$102,200$89 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Rockford, IL 61103 75%628$51,161$115,500$98 larger · newer homes
Akron, OH 44306 74%253$41,688$81,400$88 more single-family homes · newer homes
Dayton, OH 45406 74%419$41,796$85,000$88 more single-family homes · more walkable · 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.