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 Elwood, IN 46036

Elwood: median income $62,074, home value $117,700, $118/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Streator, IL 61364 94%167$59,060$103,700$128 larger
Bridgeport, OH 43912 93%268$55,668$121,600$121 smaller
Galion, OH 44833 93%163$60,151$145,500$129 pricier homes ($28K more)
Fostoria, OH 44830 92%141$62,990$121,700$115 larger · 5 min shorter commute
East Alton, IL 62024 92%246$56,761$126,500$102 Very close on everything we compare
Conneaut, OH 44030 91%297$63,533$145,800$139 pricier homes ($28K more)
Wood River, IL 62095 91%246$65,013$111,000$110 5 min shorter commute
Mckeesport, PA 15133 90%315$65,938$97,500$100 smaller
Connellsville, PA 15425 90%332$53,160$145,000$111 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Vandergrift, PA 15690 90%332$55,457$111,800$90 Very close on everything we compare
Punxsutawney, PA 15767 90%363$50,589$135,900$127 Very close on everything we compare
Reynoldsville, PA 15851 90%368$63,158$119,300$141 smaller
Ford City, PA 16226 90%334$63,750$144,500$112 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Union City, PA 16438 90%331$65,000$146,600$158 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Brownsville, PA 15417 89%315$55,395$106,400$78 smaller
Leechburg, PA 15656 89%328$68,311$162,600$122 pricier homes ($45K more)
Chester, WV 26034 89%279$56,556$138,400$109 smaller
Moundsville, WV 26041 89%271$54,419$144,700$109 pricier homes ($27K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Newcomerstown, OH 43832 89%224$58,333$138,800$107 smaller
East Palestine, OH 44413 89%280$50,999$122,600$119 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Dansville, NY 14437 88%450$66,332$124,800$118 Very close on everything we compare
Meyersdale, PA 15552 88%362$65,551$143,000$76 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Rimersburg, PA 16248 88%336$65,272$110,600$100 smaller
Bluefield, VA 24605 88%323$52,653$137,200$105 Very close on everything we compare
Nitro, WV 25143 88%250$53,205$128,600$108 6 min shorter commute

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.