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 Royal Center, IN 46978

Royal Center: median income $78,750, home value $130,000, $119/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Munger, MI 48747 94%231$81,458$141,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, IL 61723 94%149$85,230$150,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
Summerville, PA 15864 91%383$65,859$141,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Farmer City, IL 61842 91%121$80,117$157,500$127 pricier homes ($28K more)
Blue Mound, IL 62513 91%159$83,125$142,900$82 Very close on everything we compare
Nortonville, KS 66060 91%476$77,222$155,800— pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Clarksville, PA 15322 90%345$87,635$111,500$100 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, MI 49235 90%137$64,219$173,500$124 pricier homes ($44K more)
Wayland, IA 52654 90%269$84,783$149,700$102 5 min shorter commute
Amboy, MN 56010 90%444$80,156$167,900$111 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Warren, IL 61087 90%212$77,321$108,900$83 Very close on everything we compare
Ohio, IL 61349 90%160$71,375$119,200$126 smaller
Tonica, IL 61370 90%137$91,094$155,100$130 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Delavan, IL 61734 90%162$71,435$152,700$100 Very close on everything we compare
Villa Grove, IL 61956 90%111$75,125$143,000$106 newer homes
Greenview, IL 62642 90%178$77,538$112,700$119 older residents
Collins, NY 14034 89%409$62,412$151,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Wyoming, NY 14591 89%454$85,804$163,500$96 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Fredericktown, PA 15333 89%347$89,333$185,600$112 pricier homes ($56K more)
Bloomville, OH 44818 89%184$63,922$141,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, MI 48701 89%242$62,969$112,200$108 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge, IL 61238 89%194$64,583$131,100$106 5 min shorter commute
Macon, IL 62544 89%153$89,167$146,500$111 newer homes
Mason City, IL 62664 89%174$70,509$101,200$95 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Mount Hope, KS 67108 89%630$87,679$160,500$116 pricier homes ($31K more) · 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.