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 Hillsboro, IN 47949

Hillsboro: median income $76,429, home value $118,800, $112/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grover Hill, OH 45849 92%154$77,841$124,500$99 smaller
Payne, OH 45880 91%144$69,500$124,700$140 larger
Lancaster, MO 63548 91%285$66,625$163,400— pricier homes ($45K more)
Belfast, NY 14711 90%495$65,938$100,100$90 Very close on everything we compare
Bessemer, PA 16112 90%355$74,821$154,500$114 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Columbus Junction, IA 52738 90%233$80,385$145,700$117 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Atlanta, IL 61723 90%110$85,230$150,800$113 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Edwards, NY 13635 89%675$71,316$104,400— Very close on everything we compare
Milroy, PA 17063 89%507$75,444$135,200$113 larger · older residents
Primghar, IA 51245 89%485$69,531$149,700$97 pricier homes ($31K more)
Forreston, IL 61030 89%189$71,655$157,200$130 pricier homes ($38K more)
Hutsonville, IL 62433 89%73$73,750$102,500— more renters
Penn, PA 15675 88%397$76,406$112,700$90 older homes
Lyons, MI 48851 88%230$65,726$158,000$137 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Hopkinton, IA 52237 88%264$84,063$166,800$104 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents
Blue Mound, IL 62513 88%107$83,125$142,900$82 Very close on everything we compare
Nortonville, KS 66060 88%436$77,222$155,800— pricier homes ($37K more)
Lyndon, KS 66451 88%466$76,908$158,500$123 pricier homes ($40K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Dawson, PA 15428 87%396$70,368$123,200$135 older residents
Breckenridge, MI 48615 87%266$70,000$143,400$120 larger · older residents
Villa Grove, IL 61956 87%55$75,125$143,000$106 larger · older residents
Udall, KS 67146 87%567$79,688$164,400$116 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Shelton, NE 68876 87%611$82,207$163,800$108 pricier homes ($45K more) · 6 min shorter commute
West Winfield, NY 13491 86%648$72,917$151,400$118 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents
Tiro, OH 44887 86%236$85,793$135,000$159 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.