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 Elyria, OH 44035

Elyria: median income $56,408, home value $160,200, $152/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henderson, KY 42420 96%380$57,053$170,300$142 smaller
Port Huron, MI 48060 96%114$53,018$160,900$136 smaller
Taylor, MI 48180 96%84$61,081$152,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Michigan City, IN 46360 95%247$59,266$167,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
Kankakee, IL 60901 95%300$58,309$151,200$135 smaller
Roseville, MI 48066 94%89$62,182$155,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Elkhart, IN 46516 93%201$56,492$153,400$147 smaller
Kokomo, IN 46902 93%220$62,126$168,800$134 smaller
Adrian, MI 49221 93%107$65,977$170,400$134 smaller
Decatur, AL 35601 92%539$51,429$172,200$134 smaller
Shelbyville, IN 46176 92%233$65,182$194,400$137 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Kokomo, IN 46901 92%219$60,495$142,100$123 smaller
Rockford, IL 61108 92%361$64,415$144,800$133 smaller
Danville, VA 24540 91%359$47,924$159,200$129 smaller
Goldsboro, NC 27530 91%468$54,504$200,300$148 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Elkhart, IN 46517 91%201$56,772$177,200$155 smaller
Mishawaka, IN 46544 91%211$58,829$172,200$144 smaller · younger residents
Richmond, IN 47374 91%181$50,766$130,700$124 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Muskegon, MI 49442 91%245$48,563$136,400$166 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, IA 50208 91%566$62,306$168,900$169 smaller
Council Bluffs, IA 51501 91%714$59,843$152,400$156 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 91%362$63,144$180,200$169 Very close on everything we compare
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901 91%756$53,514$190,500$152 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
San Angelo, TX 76903 91%1,224$49,498$125,700$149 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Uniontown, PA 15401 90%161$53,925$155,600$123 smaller

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.