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 Ellwood City, PA 16117

Ellwood City: median income $73,045, home value $153,600, $135/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canastota, NY 13032 93%277$81,171$165,800$153 Very close on everything we compare
Vinton, IA 52349 92%613$71,314$181,200$135 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Weirton, WV 26062 91%36$60,702$134,700$133 Very close on everything we compare
Hubbard, OH 44425 91%26$61,568$145,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Massillon, OH 44647 91%68$67,140$155,200$156 Very close on everything we compare
Anderson, IN 46011 91%292$76,391$178,700$128 pricier homes ($25K more) · newer homes
Mohawk, NY 13407 90%308$69,846$149,100$124 smaller
Palmyra, NY 14522 90%217$75,116$159,500$165 smaller · younger residents
Conneaut, OH 44030 90%75$63,533$145,800$139 younger residents
Akron, OH 44312 90%63$65,480$152,800$168 larger · newer homes
North Manchester, IN 46962 90%289$67,984$159,600$135 smaller · younger residents
Two Rivers, WI 54241 90%437$61,014$156,300$146 Very close on everything we compare
Peru, IL 61354 90%463$76,392$158,500$155 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Wabash, IN 46992 89%292$66,220$159,900$118 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Abilene, KS 67410 89%907$65,855$146,700$98 smaller
Toronto, OH 43964 88%34$60,365$132,800$135 smaller
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080 88%176$66,986$199,900$154 pricier homes ($46K more)
Dixon, IL 61021 88%483$69,127$148,500$126 newer homes
Owego, NY 13827 87%224$72,769$156,400$131 more apartments and townhomes
Dansville, NY 14437 87%176$66,332$124,800$118 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Barberton, OH 44203 87%72$63,759$159,700$165 larger
Akron, OH 44319 87%67$79,221$196,600$172 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Youngstown, OH 44511 87%27$56,880$125,200$138 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Wyandotte, MI 48192 87%176$71,987$166,900$152 larger · younger residents
Owosso, MI 48867 87%248$59,825$154,400$143 larger · younger residents

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.