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 Eaton, NY 13334

Eaton: median income $58,125, home value $102,100, $324/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eldon, IA 52554 93%862$55,769$82,400— Very close on everything we compare
Emerson, NE 68733 90%1,071$64,479$132,600— pricier homes ($31K more)
Fairfax, MO 64446 87%1,033$56,949$101,800— more single-family homes
Grant City, MO 64456 87%980$48,611$92,000— newer homes
Irvona, PA 16656 86%207$48,071$101,200— 6 min longer commute
Crossville, IL 62827 86%728$52,550$100,000— 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 86%1,110$57,361$85,900— newer homes
Sutherland, IA 51058 85%1,002$63,036$133,000— pricier homes ($31K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Mclean, TX 79057 83%1,433$70,865$91,300— more single-family homes
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 82%182$68,347$79,200— larger
Bay Port, MI 48720 82%394$60,250$139,100— pricier homes ($37K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Harvard, NE 68944 82%1,164$69,432$125,800— younger residents · newer homes
Hay Springs, NE 69347 81%1,366$76,133$116,300— older residents
Tatum, NM 88267 81%1,636$52,250$111,400— more renters · newer homes
Grayville, IL 62844 80%722$47,625$79,200— larger · newer homes
Caldwell, KS 67022 80%1,228$60,000$89,700$191 Very close on everything we compare
Sedan, KS 67361 80%1,153$53,917$64,400— cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · newer homes
Helena, OK 73741 80%1,276$62,083$110,800— larger · newer homes
Risingsun, OH 43457 79%415$54,583$153,800— pricier homes ($52K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Albert City, IA 50510 79%979$76,397$110,700— older residents · more single-family homes
Bradford, IL 61421 79%728$65,833$91,300$208 more single-family homes
Nebo, IL 62355 79%821$65,750$108,700— 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chappell, NE 69129 79%1,377$67,105$107,000— older residents · 6 min longer commute
Weedville, PA 15868 78%183$70,395$112,200— newer homes
Kewanna, IN 46939 78%568$69,000$140,700— pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 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.