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 Brilliant, OH 43913

Brilliant: median income $43,914, home value $82,500, $80/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sheldon, IL 60966 90%366$46,944$85,200$63 more homeowners
Benwood, WV 26031 89%18$46,797$78,300$83 more walkable
Joanna, SC 29351 86%410$49,414$85,000$103 newer homes
Assumption, IL 62510 85%449$56,949$103,200$90 Very close on everything we compare
Limestone, ME 04750 83%786$48,750$96,600$121 newer homes
Renovo, PA 17764 83%168$41,173$83,800$95 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Savanna, IL 61074 83%510$50,691$91,500$84 larger · older residents
Luzerne, PA 18709 81%258$42,135$113,600$96 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more walkable
Horton, KS 66439 80%789$53,348$90,800$110 larger · newer homes
Benld, IL 62009 79%494$45,217$85,100$95 7 min longer commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Farrell, PA 16121 78%66$42,595$87,800— larger · more walkable
Rich Creek, VA 24147 78%199$61,667$102,900$98 6 min longer commute
Griggsville, IL 62340 78%535$43,333$99,500— newer homes
Brunswick, MO 65236 78%664$46,806$98,800$62 younger residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Slater, MO 65349 78%663$45,982$98,400$82 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Mount Morris, IL 61054 77%474$47,467$121,400$103 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · more homeowners
Earth, TX 79031 77%1,265$43,750$96,600$71 more homeowners · newer homes
Bolivar, NY 14715 76%180$55,640$80,500$66 larger · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Westbrook, MN 56183 76%800$45,536$138,400$109 pricier homes ($56K more) · more homeowners
Wenona, IL 61377 76%444$57,321$139,500$86 pricier homes ($57K more) · more homeowners
Madison, IL 62060 76%519$46,563$63,300$71 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Christopher, IL 62822 76%478$47,770$67,600$52 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Grayville, IL 62844 76%418$47,625$79,200— larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Springhill, LA 71075 76%869$40,246$100,800$81 larger · newer homes
Hobart, OK 73651 76%1,071$41,273$97,800$62 larger · younger residents

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.