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 Cortland, IL 60112

Cortland: median income $72,831, home value $229,900, $183/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crittenden, KY 41030 94%306$83,488$248,300$195 Very close on everything we compare
Howe, TX 75459 94%725$71,228$258,300$163 pricier homes ($28K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73169 93%661$81,314$267,800$193 pricier homes ($38K more)
Bunnlevel, NC 28323 91%700$69,095$224,000$164 6 min longer commute
Hensley, AR 72065 91%547$75,857$223,100$145 older residents
Stedman, NC 28391 90%719$72,955$210,900$149 older residents
Brookwood, AL 35444 90%602$69,207$181,500$176 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
New Hope, AL 35760 90%524$71,622$172,600$186 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Summerdale, AL 36580 90%793$62,802$262,100$188 pricier homes ($32K more)
Pevely, MO 63070 90%267$65,211$210,500$190 larger
Eden, MD 21822 89%733$84,479$277,700$189 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Riner, VA 24149 89%554$69,753$204,600$226 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents
Linden, NC 28356 89%706$72,150$225,300$151 older residents
Graniteville, SC 29829 89%688$84,228$246,900$154 larger
Colbert, GA 30628 89%620$70,139$287,900$186 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents
Belden, MS 38826 89%526$75,862$253,700$172 5 min shorter commute
Caledonia, MS 39740 89%569$83,240$189,900$143 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Clark, MO 65243 89%265$68,021$208,200$191 smaller
Knob Noster, MO 65336 89%336$66,935$217,900$153 more renters
Saint George, KS 66535 89%447$78,642$237,100$153 older residents
Choudrant, LA 71227 89%680$64,195$255,800$187 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Prairie Grove, AR 72753 89%509$70,985$243,400$185 larger
Snowflake, AZ 85937 89%1,265$69,702$269,900$208 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Hobbs, NM 88242 89%1,011$90,000$260,200$198 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Ellendale, DE 19941 88%731$75,139$243,800$208 Very close on everything we compare

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.