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 Ely, IA 52227

Ely: median income $120,230, home value $341,900, $196/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hartford, SD 57033 94%297$105,560$289,600$202 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Pine Island, MN 55963 93%169$112,287$376,900$167 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Waverly, NE 68462 92%265$119,712$322,600$170 larger
Alexander, NC 28701 90%643$108,125$324,300$278 larger
Dundas, MN 55019 90%191$117,381$350,700$200 more homeowners
Mapleton, ND 58059 90%439$115,469$331,800$201 smaller · younger residents
Eudora, KS 66025 90%276$114,868$311,100$184 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Hickman, NE 68372 90%277$114,420$354,100$162 Very close on everything we compare
Tuscola, TX 79562 90%807$109,572$329,800$207 larger · 5 min longer commute
Clinton, PA 15026 89%591$115,556$276,400$204 cheaper homes ($66K less) · older homes
Roanoke, IN 46783 89%329$101,705$303,700$185 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Deerfield, WI 53531 89%150$105,000$353,300$219 older homes
Dell Rapids, SD 57022 89%293$100,656$325,200$192 larger · older homes
Greenfield Center, NY 12833 88%906$102,832$345,600$183 larger · older homes
Medina, TN 38355 88%447$108,982$282,200$174 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Barneveld, WI 53507 88%115$113,261$347,400$224 7 min longer commute
Greenville, WI 54942 88%226$119,508$355,900$217 larger
Cologne, MN 55322 88%228$124,861$426,200$181 pricier homes ($84K more) · 6 min longer commute
Brandon, SD 57005 88%280$112,500$341,200$189 larger
Hebron, MD 21830 87%871$112,991$282,300$199 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Mattawan, MI 49071 87%297$108,629$284,800$177 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Belleville, WI 53508 87%124$99,948$350,700$230 larger · 5 min longer commute
Roberts, WI 54023 87%219$108,466$385,100$197 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Dover, MN 55929 87%148$118,977$332,300$166 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Baltic, SD 57003 87%292$111,932$281,500$194 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 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.