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 Elsah, IL 62028

Elsah: median income $72,031, home value $170,900, $126/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houghton, NY 14744 92%679$77,750$159,600$169 larger
Wilberforce, OH 45384 85%350$67,019$145,900— cheaper homes ($25K less)
Bethany, WV 26032 80%529$58,750$116,300$118 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older homes
West Liberty, WV 26074 76%526$50,000$164,800— older homes
Goodwell, OK 73939 73%639$72,813$163,900— older residents
Upland, IN 46989 71%278$82,074$219,400$125 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · more homeowners
Hamilton, NY 13346 70%817$60,600$214,600$181 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more walkable
Volga, SD 57071 70%502$77,138$246,000— pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · older residents
Lamoni, IA 50140 68%222$57,443$121,900— cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Cimarron, KS 67835 67%547$79,877$215,900$117 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older residents
Alfred Station, NY 14803 65%697$51,694$140,600— cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Due West, SC 29639 65%544$53,050$220,600$177 pricier homes ($50K more)
Gruver, TX 79040 65%632$84,583$156,400$122 older residents · more homeowners · more walkable
Cedarville, OH 45314 64%354$84,844$313,400$188 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger · more homeowners
Willow Lake, SD 57278 63%543$70,208$220,400— pricier homes ($50K more) · more homeowners
Highland, KS 66035 63%269$97,895$124,300$131 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · more homeowners
Saint Marys, KS 66536 63%307$85,568$224,600$151 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Gambier, OH 43022 62%435$94,712$315,900$209 pricier homes ($145K more) · larger · more homeowners
Ada, OH 45810 62%369$63,451$167,900$138 larger · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Fayette, IA 52142 62%279$56,875$162,500$105 older residents · older homes
Texhoma, OK 73949 62%649$62,477$155,100$95 older residents · more homeowners
Aurora, NY 13026 61%760$96,324$206,100$195 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents · older homes
Delhi, NY 13753 61%840$70,000$216,200$160 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older residents
Winona Lake, IN 46590 61%285$82,188$274,500$152 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · older residents
Paul Smiths, NY 12970 60%910$84,250$242,100$240 pricier homes ($71K more) · older 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.