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 Urbana, IA 52345

Urbana: median income $115,179, home value $226,800, $134/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Haskins, OH 43525 89%424$108,672$241,300$179 Very close on everything we compare
Henryville, IN 47126 88%411$106,875$276,100$175 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Dover, MN 55929 88%123$118,977$332,300$166 pricier homes ($106K more)
Essex, IL 60935 88%205$110,000$248,900$185 Very close on everything we compare
Oronogo, MO 64855 87%370$90,500$177,400$165 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Buskirk, NY 12028 86%937$96,891$247,700— older homes
Check, VA 24072 86%716$109,500$243,400$170 8 min longer commute
Baltic, SD 57003 86%267$111,932$281,500$194 pricier homes ($55K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Benton, KS 67017 86%412$88,750$259,400$150 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($33K more)
Yutan, NE 68073 86%242$112,460$263,400$148 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older homes
Sorrento, LA 70778 86%835$101,967$253,000$151 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Cashion, OK 73016 86%542$103,872$285,400$186 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Cable, OH 43009 85%451$102,841$258,300$156 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Memphis, IN 47143 85%414$138,382$272,600$175 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Surrey, ND 58785 85%611$105,375$317,200$168 pricier homes ($90K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Aviston, IL 62216 85%278$120,139$260,900$197 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Lithopolis, OH 43136 84%502$114,375$335,400$187 pricier homes ($109K more)
Barnesville, MN 56514 84%378$100,845$264,800$145 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older homes
Erwinville, LA 70729 84%808$109,653$300,000$187 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Buffalo Gap, TX 79508 84%813$105,000$210,000$210 older residents
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641 83%516$96,208$237,400$172 larger · older residents
Metamora, OH 43540 83%411$119,583$259,300$167 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · older homes
Woodburn, IN 46797 83%371$103,566$260,600$149 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Vallonia, IN 47281 83%386$96,250$182,600$104 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Westpoint, IN 47992 83%282$125,526$240,900$123 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.