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 Milton, IN 47357

Milton: median income $99,028, home value $155,800, $92/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Delmar, IA 52037 95%324$90,813$198,400$91 pricier homes ($43K more)
Gowrie, IA 50543 94%507$91,563$155,100— Very close on everything we compare
Wyoming, NY 14591 93%423$85,804$163,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
Clarksville, PA 15322 91%271$87,635$111,500$100 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Munger, MI 48747 91%269$81,458$141,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Odell, IL 60460 91%197$91,154$156,100$121 Very close on everything we compare
Sheffield, IL 61361 91%265$91,250$147,200$88 Very close on everything we compare
Fredericktown, PA 15333 90%273$89,333$185,600$112 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
West Manchester, OH 45382 90%29$95,652$200,000$77 pricier homes ($44K more)
Radcliffe, IA 50230 90%466$87,778$165,300$107 older residents
Wayland, IA 52654 90%355$84,783$149,700$102 larger
Amboy, MN 56010 90%545$80,156$167,900$111 Very close on everything we compare
Elizabeth, IL 61028 90%316$86,053$174,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Tonica, IL 61370 90%230$91,094$155,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Lean, IL 61754 90%216$98,681$162,500$110 newer homes
Letts, IA 52754 89%335$104,250$194,300$131 pricier homes ($39K more)
Reynolds, IL 61279 89%308$87,656$161,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Hope, KS 67108 89%686$87,679$160,500$116 newer homes
Addieville, IL 62214 88%257$104,063$169,100— newer homes
Shelby, NE 68662 88%652$89,706$168,900$93 newer homes
Luckey, OH 43443 87%145$97,917$207,100$115 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
New Riegel, OH 44853 87%130$90,281$156,100— 7 min shorter commute
Gilman, IA 50106 87%427$101,193$118,900$138 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Nora Springs, IA 50458 87%469$99,643$157,500$89 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Gladbrook, IA 50635 87%428$81,125$154,700$95 Very close on everything we compare

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.