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 Centerville, IA 52544

Centerville: median income $50,572, home value $116,900, $119/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wellington, KS 67152 95%340$52,275$119,200$93 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 94%565$54,159$143,400$117 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Rocky Ford, CO 81067 94%608$50,028$154,800$139 pricier homes ($38K more)
La Salle, IL 61301 93%201$60,328$129,000$104 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Scott, KS 66701 93%224$56,795$112,700$101 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, NE 68352 93%230$55,370$132,200$107 smaller
Sweetwater, TX 79556 93%706$49,393$94,900$111 larger
Dunbar, WV 25064 92%615$57,263$119,900$116 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44710 92%599$47,305$104,600$110 Very close on everything we compare
Gibson City, IL 60936 92%237$51,323$157,200$146 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Mattoon, IL 61938 92%253$57,503$111,700$107 larger
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 92%309$53,622$100,600$82 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, MO 64503 92%124$53,039$140,500$129 newer homes
Bartlesville, OK 74003 92%323$47,168$113,500$103 larger · younger residents
Las Animas, CO 81054 92%579$48,398$134,100$109 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Binghamton, NY 13904 91%885$53,984$121,100$106 more apartments and townhomes
Struthers, OH 44471 91%641$54,571$106,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, OH 45506 91%480$42,104$107,300$102 larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64504 91%127$58,801$127,100$112 Very close on everything we compare
Cushing, OK 74023 91%390$49,097$145,400$110 pricier homes ($29K more) · newer homes
Clearfield, PA 16830 90%753$58,304$130,300$110 larger
Charleston, WV 25387 90%621$43,063$91,400$122 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Lima, OH 45801 90%459$51,731$123,900$132 larger
Antigo, WI 54409 90%358$53,576$123,300$133 larger
Pana, IL 62557 90%220$51,389$88,900$91 cheaper homes ($28K less)

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.