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 Penn, PA 15675

Penn: median income $76,406, home value $112,700, $90/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hillsboro, IN 47949 88%397$76,429$118,800$112 newer homes
Primghar, IA 51245 83%846$69,531$149,700$97 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
Hopkinton, IA 52237 83%617$84,063$166,800$104 pricier homes ($54K more)
Hanover, KS 66945 83%909$69,688$118,000— 9 min shorter commute
Minneola, KS 67865 82%1,111$65,125$126,700$74 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Clarkfield, MN 56223 81%878$71,667$110,000$74 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Shannon, IL 61078 81%540$75,769$133,100$89 older residents
Nokomis, IL 62075 81%516$65,954$93,400$73 larger · older residents
Blue Mound, IL 62513 81%503$83,125$142,900$82 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents · less walkable
Eldorado, OH 45321 80%268$69,135$150,900$87 pricier homes ($38K more) · less walkable
Readlyn, IA 50668 80%670$85,956$174,000$118 pricier homes ($61K more) · older residents
Canajoharie, NY 13317 79%314$72,500$139,400$123 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Early, IA 50535 79%817$91,995$94,800$82 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Ashkum, IL 60911 79%437$89,792$158,700$91 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Colfax, IL 61728 79%472$97,159$155,200$100 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents
Shelton, NE 68876 79%1,001$82,207$163,800$108 pricier homes ($51K more) · newer homes
Earlville, NY 13332 78%268$79,737$140,300$87 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Ohio, IL 61349 78%519$71,375$119,200$126 older residents · less walkable
Lancaster, MO 63548 78%677$66,625$163,400— pricier homes ($51K more) · newer homes
North Fairfield, OH 44855 77%164$63,125$159,000$92 pricier homes ($46K more) · less walkable
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 77%789$80,119$149,700$111 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older residents
Eagle Grove, IA 50533 77%755$65,595$110,200$76 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Rossville, IL 60963 77%423$66,250$98,300$87 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Atlanta, IL 61723 77%505$85,230$150,800$113 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents
Forrest, IL 61741 77%461$87,850$167,700$99 pricier homes ($55K more) · 7 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.