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 Eldorado, OH 45321

Eldorado: median income $69,135, home value $150,900, $87/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hopkinton, IA 52237 83%381$84,063$166,800$104 newer homes
Waldron, MI 49288 82%128$66,833$147,500$129 older residents
Scranton, IA 51462 81%535$69,286$146,300— older residents · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Ohio, IL 61349 81%275$71,375$119,200$126 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Penn, PA 15675 80%268$76,406$112,700$90 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more walkable
Hamlet, IN 46532 79%145$84,866$145,100$138 larger · newer homes
Owaneco, IL 62555 79%242$69,676$131,300— older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hardin, MO 64035 78%489$86,756$138,300$144 newer homes
Hillsboro, IN 47949 77%132$76,429$118,800$112 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Deerfield, MI 49238 77%146$75,054$208,200$163 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older residents
Wheatland, IA 52777 77%349$60,250$158,900$168 older residents
Macy, IN 46951 76%106$55,227$150,300$134 larger · newer homes
Boyd, WI 54726 76%476$78,500$192,100$114 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents · newer homes
Cambridge, IL 61238 76%305$64,583$131,100$106 larger · older residents
Blue Mound, IL 62513 76%236$83,125$142,900$82 older residents · newer homes
Greens Fork, IN 47345 75%20$73,750$155,600$136 older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Readlyn, IA 50668 75%436$85,956$174,000$118 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
La Crosse, IN 46348 74%151$64,375$168,800$109 older residents · newer homes
Decker, MI 48426 74%262$62,169$126,000— newer homes
Morenci, MI 49256 74%130$62,880$129,400$98 larger · older residents · newer homes
Riceville, IA 50466 74%472$56,728$209,800— pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
Loganville, WI 53943 74%368$73,000$225,600— pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · newer homes
Clarkfield, MN 56223 74%661$71,667$110,000$74 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Milledgeville, IL 61051 74%303$59,565$104,200$89 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Sheffield, IL 61361 74%284$91,250$147,200$88 older 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.