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.

Reset

Towns most like Sweetser, IN 46987

Sweetser: median income $80,893, home value $152,500, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Annawan, IL 61234 97%224$79,688$146,500$92 Very close on everything we compare
Paoli, OK 73074 95%742$78,088$139,600— Very close on everything we compare
Riverton, KS 66770 94%538$90,521$149,100$113 newer homes
Americus, KS 66835 94%577$81,000$124,000$163 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Rudolph, OH 43462 93%120$88,000$166,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Winthrop, IA 50682 93%336$89,375$183,800$142 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Illiopolis, IL 62539 93%190$82,750$123,400$73 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Ney, OH 43549 92%86$84,189$180,300$121 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners
Hanoverton, OH 44423 92%255$80,583$177,700$196 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Livingston, WI 53554 92%290$74,063$175,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Erie, IL 61250 92%237$84,688$167,700$95 larger
Lyndon, KS 66451 92%544$76,908$158,500$123 larger
Minatare, NE 69356 92%924$73,787$189,500$75 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Donnellson, IA 52625 91%305$80,078$205,300$125 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Richardton, ND 58652 91%930$79,524$205,000$78 pricier homes ($53K more)
Cissna Park, IL 60924 91%111$78,250$154,900$94 Very close on everything we compare
Green Valley, IL 61534 91%205$90,104$167,300$108 larger
Maroa, IL 61756 91%172$86,375$181,300$105 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Dalton City, IL 61925 91%171$81,316$133,200$122 older residents
Mendon, IL 62351 91%293$77,298$147,800$48 larger
Frankfort, KS 66427 91%571$79,481$133,600— Very close on everything we compare
Buhler, KS 67522 91%662$72,622$146,300$109 larger
Thomas, OK 73669 91%779$69,821$151,100$67 Very close on everything we compare
Clayville, NY 13322 90%566$91,369$204,800$141 pricier homes ($52K more)
Laurens, NY 13796 90%566$88,750$166,900$112 more apartments and townhomes

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.