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 Readlyn, IA 50668

Readlyn: median income $85,956, home value $174,000, $118/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randolph, NE 68771 94%262$83,580$162,500— Very close on everything we compare
Luckey, OH 43443 92%457$97,917$207,100$115 pricier homes ($33K more)
Forrest, IL 61741 92%238$87,850$167,700$99 newer homes
Ashkum, IL 60911 91%253$89,792$158,700$91 newer homes
Sheffield, IL 61361 91%157$91,250$147,200$88 cheaper homes ($27K less)
North Rose, NY 14516 90%774$76,000$172,400$114 larger · newer homes
Wyoming, NY 14591 90%716$85,804$163,500$96 newer homes
Greens Fork, IN 47345 90%419$73,750$155,600$136 Very close on everything we compare
Flanagan, IL 61740 90%213$79,904$143,600$86 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Canton, KS 67428 90%404$75,815$147,600$115 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Gypsum, KS 67448 90%388$89,076$127,100$153 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Scribner, NE 68057 90%238$74,213$168,200$113 6 min shorter commute
Leigh, NE 68643 90%266$77,125$156,900— 6 min shorter commute
Brandon, WI 53919 89%187$97,019$223,400$150 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Madelia, MN 56062 89%145$76,713$182,500$142 larger
Odell, IL 60460 89%223$91,154$156,100$121 older residents
Shelton, NE 68876 89%362$82,207$163,800$108 larger · newer homes
Wolcott, IN 47995 88%299$80,179$161,800$133 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Amboy, MN 56010 88%129$80,156$167,900$111 older residents
Tyler, MN 56178 88%225$87,031$165,400$125 older residents · newer homes
Homer, IL 61849 88%287$86,250$159,900$106 larger · newer homes
Fredericktown, PA 15333 87%660$89,333$185,600$112 larger · 6 min longer commute
Valley View, PA 17983 87%820$72,411$158,700$101 Very close on everything we compare
Cygnet, OH 43413 87%451$80,069$139,700$137 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Milton, IN 47357 87%419$99,028$155,800$92 older residents

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.