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 Waynetown, IN 47990

Waynetown: median income $63,198, home value $119,600, $81/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dahlgren, IL 62828 96%156$70,583$113,000$86 Very close on everything we compare
Worthington, WV 26591 94%362$61,071$124,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Edwards, NY 13635 93%670$71,316$104,400— Very close on everything we compare
Avoca, NY 14809 93%522$63,875$107,200$81 larger
Atwood, IL 61913 93%77$65,500$128,700$73 older residents
Cisne, IL 62823 93%131$59,310$119,100— Very close on everything we compare
Norris City, IL 62869 93%161$62,159$119,500— larger
Savannah, NY 13146 92%571$61,842$98,400$80 larger
Pleasant Hill, IL 62366 92%208$56,346$81,500$75 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Hermon, NY 13652 91%676$67,946$102,700$81 larger
Belfast, NY 14711 91%490$65,938$100,100$90 larger
Lewis Run, PA 16738 91%453$66,971$120,000$64 larger · older residents
Sycamore, GA 31790 91%613$63,365$113,900$104 larger
Grover Hill, OH 45849 91%149$77,841$124,500$99 Very close on everything we compare
Afton, IA 50830 91%381$61,094$113,300$114 Very close on everything we compare
Ramsey, IL 62080 91%127$67,717$94,000$78 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Bluford, IL 62814 91%151$59,462$121,300— newer homes
Ravenwood, MO 64479 91%403$61,184$150,700— pricier homes ($31K more)
West Edmeston, NY 13485 90%635$62,337$151,600$82 pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
Decker, MI 48426 90%312$62,169$126,000— younger residents
Lodge Grass, MT 59050 90%1,090$62,500$112,500— Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, IL 62417 90%103$54,792$104,600$92 larger
Princeton, MO 64673 90%345$61,364$101,600$72 larger · older residents
Man, WV 25635 89%322$52,583$130,100— Very close on everything we compare
Burnsville, MS 38833 89%368$52,917$142,300— 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.