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 Elnora, IN 47529

Elnora: median income $69,135, home value $129,700, $165/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stone Creek, OH 43840 92%311$63,750$154,200$185 Very close on everything we compare
Harvard, NE 68944 90%596$69,432$125,800— older residents
Happy, TX 79042 90%863$70,590$148,500$161 less walkable
Avon, SD 57315 89%639$73,750$169,600$157 pricier homes ($40K more)
Hanover, KS 66945 89%527$69,688$118,000— Very close on everything we compare
Scipio Center, NY 13147 88%611$74,934$155,600$152 pricier homes ($26K more) · older homes
Unity, WI 54488 87%443$63,571$142,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Welcome, MN 56181 87%511$55,750$114,100$178 Very close on everything we compare
Renville, MN 56284 87%583$72,500$162,500$116 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Elgin, NE 68636 87%616$78,056$113,800— Very close on everything we compare
Cyril, OK 73029 87%673$64,423$126,200$144 newer homes
Kellogg, IA 50135 86%364$65,250$165,200$157 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Onawa, IA 51040 86%522$71,179$151,600$150 larger · older residents
Arcadia, IA 51430 86%472$76,250$146,300$158 less walkable · older homes
Ladd, IL 61329 86%207$67,321$129,600$118 older residents
Wisner, NE 68791 86%560$69,018$165,300$137 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Syracuse, KS 67878 85%796$71,850$118,800— larger · 6 min shorter commute
Clarkson, NE 68629 85%562$78,438$132,800— older residents
Ansonia, OH 45303 84%160$65,556$134,100$146 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Payne, OH 45880 84%197$69,500$124,700$140 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Afton, IA 50830 84%405$61,094$113,300$114 larger
Raymond, IL 62560 84%137$80,781$110,000$123 Very close on everything we compare
Carterville, MO 64835 84%417$58,849$97,600$142 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · newer homes
Garber, OK 73738 84%598$79,643$115,000— Very close on everything we compare
Pantego, NC 27860 83%614$62,083$145,300— newer homes

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.