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 Correctionville, IA 51016

Correctionville: median income $51,875, home value $89,400, $124/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nickerson, KS 67561 94%323$57,434$95,000— Very close on everything we compare
Jasper, MN 56144 91%100$58,375$95,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Dunkirk, OH 45836 90%638$56,250$119,700$117 pricier homes ($30K more)
Bobtown, PA 15315 88%842$48,362$64,100— cheaper homes ($25K less) · 6 min longer commute
Milledgeville, IL 61051 88%309$59,565$104,200$89 older residents
Grindstone, PA 15442 86%844$57,246$93,200$137 larger
Newman Grove, NE 68758 86%114$56,667$132,500$101 pricier homes ($43K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Point Marion, PA 15474 85%847$62,500$117,700$136 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Welcome, MN 56181 84%102$55,750$114,100$178 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Barry, IL 62312 84%313$68,571$98,300$105 larger
Clyde, KS 66938 84%217$55,284$80,000$84 8 min shorter commute
Ridge Farm, IL 61870 83%459$54,044$74,800$133 older residents · newer homes
Rossville, IL 60963 82%445$66,250$98,300$87 Very close on everything we compare
Ohio, IL 61349 82%331$71,375$119,200$126 pricier homes ($30K more)
South Dayton, NY 14138 81%852$56,868$111,700$134 larger · older residents
Bloomville, OH 44818 81%666$63,922$141,300$116 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older residents
Lidgerwood, ND 58053 81%258$51,339$96,100$93 newer homes
Wymore, NE 68466 81%169$61,574$87,300$80 larger · older residents
Hollsopple, PA 15935 80%885$61,941$99,600$121 larger · older residents
Brook, IN 47922 80%449$61,033$125,500$111 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents · newer homes
Lyons, NE 68038 80%51$51,362$117,700$112 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
De Kalb Junction, NY 13630 79%1,034$63,333$92,700$82 older residents
Trevorton, PA 17881 79%992$54,122$120,000$88 pricier homes ($31K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Mount Savage, MD 21545 79%899$60,264$130,700$111 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Bicknell, IN 47512 79%512$57,857$71,800$109 larger · more renters

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.