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 Olin, IA 52320

Olin: median income $62,222, home value $131,300, $109/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nunda, NY 14517 93%676$56,088$150,000$112 larger
Lancaster, MO 63548 92%124$66,625$163,400— pricier homes ($32K more)
Bentleyville, PA 15314 91%594$59,356$166,300$134 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Sligo, PA 16255 91%605$56,058$119,300$93 older residents
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 91%648$68,750$158,100— pricier homes ($27K more)
Dawson, PA 15428 90%613$70,368$123,200$135 Very close on everything we compare
Union City, MI 49094 90%308$65,404$143,800$141 larger
Harvard, NE 68944 90%372$69,432$125,800— 6 min shorter commute
Stoneboro, PA 16153 89%571$63,750$149,300— larger · older residents
Man, WV 25635 89%572$52,583$130,100— Very close on everything we compare
Ansonia, OH 45303 89%360$65,556$134,100$146 larger
Ashley, MI 48806 89%348$61,375$155,600$112 Very close on everything we compare
Olney Springs, CO 81062 89%725$56,250$127,300$122 Very close on everything we compare
Whitehall, NY 12887 88%905$56,709$123,400$97 larger
Little Valley, NY 14755 88%632$66,103$126,700$129 larger
Edgerton, OH 43517 88%332$58,578$136,500$134 larger
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 88%60$62,250$106,700$82 larger
Hutsonville, IL 62433 88%270$73,750$102,500— cheaper homes ($29K less)
La Plata, MO 63549 88%154$59,881$135,600$140 larger · older residents
Tatum, NM 88267 88%897$52,250$111,400— older residents
Ovid, NY 14521 87%733$67,198$163,700$112 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Van Etten, NY 14889 87%746$61,944$147,800$112 5 min longer commute
Point Marion, PA 15474 87%607$62,500$117,700$136 larger · older homes
East Brady, PA 16028 87%599$62,750$162,200$114 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Port Allegany, PA 16743 87%661$54,083$120,600$107 larger · 5 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.