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 North Apollo, PA 15673

North Apollo: median income $66,629, home value $140,600, $119/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morning Sun, IA 52640 86%612$67,813$125,800$155 less walkable
Anita, IA 50020 85%795$75,417$154,600$114 less walkable
Allison, IA 50602 85%698$67,188$118,100$108 less walkable
Gilman, IL 60938 85%442$73,244$136,000$145 larger · less walkable
Barton, MD 21521 84%78$64,194$107,500$119 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · newer homes
Lakemore, OH 44250 84%102$66,328$128,400$143 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Nedrow, NY 13120 83%240$55,682$112,700$157 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Le Roy, MN 55951 83%694$61,131$168,800$115 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Thornton, IL 60476 83%424$59,647$155,100$175 larger
Paden City, WV 26159 82%99$66,190$104,100$93 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · younger residents
Kentland, IN 47951 82%413$66,156$115,600$107 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · less walkable
Belle Plaine, IA 52208 82%665$74,127$120,700$91 larger · less walkable
Fairfax, MN 55332 82%817$62,361$144,300$92 less walkable
Ackley, IA 50601 81%710$66,250$127,200$86 larger · less walkable
Greene, IA 50636 81%700$70,066$154,700$86 larger · less walkable
Port Edwards, WI 54469 81%585$74,038$153,400$108 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Gibbon, MN 55335 81%809$62,206$149,300$98 less walkable
Toluca, IL 61369 81%501$68,708$120,400$106 younger residents · less walkable
Canton, KS 67428 81%963$75,815$147,600$115 younger residents · less walkable
Bay Port, MI 48720 80%297$60,250$139,100— younger residents · less walkable
Mabel, MN 55954 80%659$66,250$159,600$155 less walkable
Winnebago, MN 56098 80%778$69,000$147,900$103 larger · less walkable
Appleton, MN 56208 80%889$59,766$102,800$114 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · less walkable
Howard, SD 57349 80%948$75,179$153,000$130 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Chappell, NE 69129 80%1,194$67,105$107,000— cheaper homes ($34K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable

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.