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 Bellwood, PA 16617

Bellwood: median income $52,609, home value $145,500, $121/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fowler, IN 47944 94%470$55,242$131,400$120 Very close on everything we compare
Shadyside, OH 43947 92%135$58,269$153,600$130 larger
Rockwell City, IA 50579 92%851$61,108$126,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Flora, IN 46929 90%428$56,940$186,500$129 pricier homes ($41K more)
Sigourney, IA 52591 90%724$62,404$156,500$130 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MN 56087 90%883$64,375$142,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, NE 68352 89%991$55,370$132,200$107 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Chester, WV 26034 88%117$56,556$138,400$109 larger · 7 min longer commute
Kingsport, TN 37665 88%360$50,991$134,400$138 larger
Sibley, IA 51249 88%913$61,500$160,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Eveleth, MN 55734 88%847$62,703$158,700$101 larger
Benson, MN 56215 88%928$56,604$167,500$99 larger
West Union, IA 52175 87%713$59,800$160,600$88 Very close on everything we compare
Winfield, IA 52659 87%685$55,125$110,900$156 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Independence, MO 64054 87%859$59,719$117,600$140 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lyons, NE 68038 87%944$51,362$117,700$112 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Falconer, NY 14733 86%114$63,068$109,700$131 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Nitro, WV 25143 86%240$53,205$128,600$108 larger
Kentland, IN 47951 86%477$66,156$115,600$107 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Jefferson, IA 50129 86%838$60,671$166,100$117 larger · older residents
Greenfield, IA 50849 86%840$64,821$148,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Estherville, IA 51334 86%866$57,482$112,000$111 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Toledo, IA 52342 86%744$57,813$142,700$102 more renters
Chisholm, MN 55719 86%862$53,647$123,100$106 larger · older residents
Gibson City, IL 60936 86%526$51,323$157,200$146 larger · more renters

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.