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, NV 89301

Ely: median income $77,518, home value $235,600, $176/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waupun, WI 53963 95%1,382$77,631$208,600$170 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Brush, CO 80723 93%602$75,691$306,500$167 pricier homes ($71K more)
Le Mars, IA 51031 92%1,004$76,525$222,800$145 larger
Omak, WA 98841 92%674$71,809$274,000$163 pricier homes ($38K more)
Mayville, WI 53050 91%1,391$71,985$210,600$170 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Mifflinburg, PA 17844 90%1,988$68,314$235,000$149 larger
Grafton, ND 58237 90%1,073$70,201$155,500$155 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Crete, NE 68333 90%953$81,083$234,000$141 Very close on everything we compare
Craig, CO 81625 90%398$75,812$295,500$190 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Watsontown, PA 17777 89%1,996$67,188$216,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Archbold, OH 43502 89%1,609$74,925$203,300$177 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Little Chute, WI 54140 89%1,406$82,472$227,000$168 Very close on everything we compare
Burlington, CO 80807 89%675$76,583$251,900$123 smaller
American Falls, ID 83211 89%255$65,483$209,200$168 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Jonestown, PA 17038 88%2,022$75,417$252,600$193 6 min longer commute
Bellefontaine, OH 43311 88%1,646$67,914$207,600$171 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Orrville, OH 44667 88%1,745$75,616$208,600$166 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Arcadia, WI 54612 88%1,250$77,647$196,400$156 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Glencoe, MN 55336 88%1,127$77,261$245,400$166 8 min longer commute
Litchfield, MN 55355 88%1,115$63,295$224,400$159 Very close on everything we compare
Waseca, MN 56093 88%1,149$73,038$221,100$144 larger
Melrose, MN 56352 88%1,111$73,721$229,100$131 Very close on everything we compare
Rawlins, WY 82301 88%439$62,841$217,300$126 Very close on everything we compare
Martinsburg, PA 16662 87%1,929$73,828$221,400$147 6 min longer commute
Butner, NC 27509 87%1,974$73,136$215,200$191 7 min longer commute · 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.