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 14904

Elmira: median income $53,174, home value $92,200, $86/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 91%246$45,923$103,600$82 smaller
Arkansas City, KS 67005 91%1,129$54,516$95,400$87 newer homes
Akron, OH 44301 90%254$51,321$104,700$105 more single-family homes
Decatur, IL 62522 90%653$50,669$113,600$75 Very close on everything we compare
Hutchinson, KS 67501 90%1,148$50,859$86,000$90 larger
Nanticoke, PA 18634 89%73$61,439$111,700$108 Very close on everything we compare
Waterloo, IA 50703 89%793$50,060$95,900$84 more single-family homes
Galesburg, IL 61401 89%705$50,546$100,600$91 larger
Bay City, MI 48708 88%373$50,518$107,700$104 larger
Akron, OH 44314 87%256$47,468$88,400$99 more single-family homes
Canton, OH 44710 87%255$47,305$104,600$110 smaller · more single-family homes
Saginaw, MI 48602 87%375$46,984$73,600$75 larger · more single-family homes
Rockford, IL 61103 87%628$51,161$115,500$98 larger
Danville, IL 61832 87%578$47,332$82,400$91 larger
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 87%616$53,622$100,600$82 smaller · newer homes
Saint Joseph, MO 64501 87%953$46,731$98,600$114 more renters
Altoona, PA 16602 86%136$55,046$125,700$93 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · older residents
Springfield, OH 45506 86%395$42,104$107,300$102 Very close on everything we compare
Keokuk, IA 52632 86%766$56,653$118,700$79 pricier homes ($27K more)
Virginia, MN 55792 86%856$53,750$129,500$87 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · older residents
Rockford, IL 61101 86%630$46,163$90,600$92 newer homes
Vandergrift, PA 15690 85%173$55,457$111,800$90 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Johnstown, PA 15902 85%163$44,215$65,100$56 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Oil City, PA 16301 85%155$57,596$89,800$66 older residents
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 85%74$59,344$140,700$118 pricier homes ($49K more)

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.