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.

Reset

Towns most like Conway, PA 15027

Conway: median income $65,466, home value $178,600, $99/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shadyside, OH 43947 84%56$58,269$153,600$130 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · less walkable
Toledo, IA 52342 84%646$57,813$142,700$102 cheaper homes ($36K less) · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45218 83%247$71,000$179,900$137 larger · younger residents
Thornton, IL 60476 83%389$59,647$155,100$175 more homeowners
Independence, MO 64054 83%760$59,719$117,600$140 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · younger residents
Ritzville, WA 99169 83%1,931$66,061$228,400$103 pricier homes ($50K more)
West Union, IA 52175 82%617$59,800$160,600$88 larger · less walkable
Sigourney, IA 52591 82%625$62,404$156,500$130 less walkable
Geneva, NE 68361 82%910$80,909$170,800$104 less walkable
Chester, WV 26034 81%18$56,556$138,400$109 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · less walkable
Springfield, MN 56087 81%790$64,375$142,600$92 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Olivia, MN 56277 81%799$70,326$184,500$133 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Webster, SD 57274 81%929$68,083$173,200$139 less walkable
Oneill, NE 68763 81%958$65,362$162,800$95 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Jefferson, IA 50129 80%739$60,671$166,100$117 larger · less walkable
Saint James, MN 56081 80%769$67,337$163,800$106 larger · less walkable
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 80%870$74,583$154,100$104 less walkable
West Point, NE 68788 80%859$69,867$211,700$115 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Warsaw, NY 14569 79%179$61,059$152,900$100 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Ceredo, WV 25507 79%200$49,245$148,400$73 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Sanborn, IA 51248 79%811$64,375$172,800$108 less walkable
Red Oak, IA 51566 79%783$56,637$134,200$109 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · less walkable
Mendota, IL 61342 79%466$65,348$153,500$112 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · less walkable
Akron, CO 80720 79%1,206$65,913$219,100$96 pricier homes ($41K more) · less walkable
Fowler, IN 47944 78%371$55,242$131,400$120 cheaper homes ($47K less) · less walkable

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.