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 Dunkirk, IN 47336

Dunkirk: median income $50,633, home value $97,800, $84/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fieldale, VA 24089 92%381$51,458$97,100$90 younger residents
Wakefield, MI 49968 92%482$55,759$91,800$97 Very close on everything we compare
Shamrock, TX 79079 91%893$51,250$92,500$68 Very close on everything we compare
Tidioute, PA 16351 90%318$51,515$91,600$82 smaller
Mount Olive, IL 62069 90%257$59,764$102,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Elmo, IL 62458 90%214$48,810$109,800$76 younger residents
Havana, IL 62644 90%255$57,689$102,900$82 larger
Clarendon, PA 16313 89%329$53,947$97,200$76 smaller
Sturgis, KY 42459 89%246$51,563$96,600$105 Very close on everything we compare
Carrier Mills, IL 62917 89%261$50,119$73,400$73 Very close on everything we compare
New Haven, WV 25265 88%199$51,827$107,700$107 smaller
Oakland, IL 61943 88%157$54,196$109,000$71 smaller
Benld, IL 62009 88%259$45,217$85,100$95 smaller
Fairfax, MO 64446 88%534$56,949$101,800— smaller
Emporium, PA 15834 87%372$50,609$87,400$89 7 min shorter commute
Johnstown, PA 15909 87%334$61,016$110,200$107 larger
New Bethlehem, PA 16242 87%310$55,677$134,700$79 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Sligo, PA 16255 87%305$56,058$119,300$93 younger residents
Charleston, WV 25315 87%246$55,083$90,200$98 more apartments and townhomes
Oelwein, IA 50662 87%380$48,646$107,700$68 larger
Stockton, IL 61085 87%283$59,798$131,300$111 pricier homes ($34K more)
Golden City, MO 64748 87%520$50,865$120,600$113 smaller
Hale Center, TX 79041 87%1,012$61,832$101,000$79 6 min shorter commute
New Castle, PA 16102 86%256$56,053$104,900$84 larger
Georgetown, IL 61846 86%130$60,871$85,700$68 larger

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.