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 Posen, IL 60469

Posen: median income $73,676, home value $173,900, $162/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68117 87%431$75,237$175,100$167 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Amarillo, TX 79103 85%883$57,981$132,300$132 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Amarillo, TX 79110 84%887$66,683$160,100$143 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Garnett, KS 66032 82%463$69,647$175,600$133 less walkable
Norco, LA 70079 81%817$71,433$238,900$158 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · older residents
Toledo, OH 43611 80%217$62,042$132,000$145 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Fort Worth, TX 76103 80%808$60,172$205,000$171 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Hazel Park, MI 48030 79%242$67,073$158,600$169 larger
Des Moines, IA 50313 79%306$68,361$175,100$187 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Station, IN 46405 78%22$60,881$139,200$139 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · less walkable
Independence, MO 64054 78%396$59,719$117,600$140 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Independence, MO 64056 78%392$67,685$198,400$160 larger · less walkable
Kansas City, KS 66104 78%406$61,338$141,500$144 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Fort Worth, TX 76111 78%807$60,194$216,400$188 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Syracuse, NY 13211 77%599$66,724$121,600$169 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Omaha, NE 68112 77%429$56,159$151,300$138 larger
Monahans, TX 79756 77%1,090$67,468$160,600— larger · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Greybull, WY 82426 77%1,045$67,083$209,000$210 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older residents
Hammond, IN 46324 76%10$63,052$158,800$147 larger · less walkable
Wyoming, MI 49509 76%135$65,132$202,100$208 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Des Moines, IA 50316 76%305$56,090$154,300$159 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Sioux City, IA 51103 76%452$58,197$142,900$138 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older homes
Independence, MO 64052 76%397$59,007$150,600$139 larger · more renters
Wichita, KS 67219 76%577$70,557$163,300$142 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Pennsville, NJ 08070 75%652$75,697$214,700$200 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · 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.