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 Steger, IL 60475

Steger: median income $67,487, home value $159,000, $137/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Lexington, OH 43764 88%310$62,083$153,200$168 less walkable
New Brighton, PA 15066 85%385$63,836$153,300$135 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Griffith, IN 46319 85%12$74,662$203,300$152 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Millersburg, PA 17061 84%561$55,611$166,100$121 6 min shorter commute
Louisville, KY 40258 84%248$68,162$183,500$156 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Wayne, MI 48184 84%226$59,171$158,000$124 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Burton, MI 48519 84%231$64,351$159,100$152 less walkable
Monaca, PA 15061 83%387$73,010$209,800$194 pricier homes ($51K more)
Roaring Spring, PA 16673 83%489$70,464$159,500$128 smaller · more homeowners
Frostburg, MD 21532 83%474$63,690$182,400$114 7 min shorter commute
Perry, IA 50220 83%335$71,671$149,400$147 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Florissant, MO 63033 83%232$66,776$173,700$126 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Independence, MO 64056 83%390$67,685$198,400$160 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
Richmond, MO 64085 83%366$64,096$171,400$158 older residents · less walkable
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 82%600$68,558$169,600$137 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 82%131$52,253$133,100$156 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75232 82%791$61,847$220,100$164 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Springfield, VT 05156 81%783$66,679$204,300$162 pricier homes ($45K more) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Fulton, NY 13069 81%587$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Crystal City, MO 63019 81%267$72,569$186,000$164 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64133 81%397$67,750$178,500$140 larger · 9 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70129 81%796$55,972$174,400$106 newer homes
Mineral Wells, TX 76067 81%830$62,190$172,200$152 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Houston, TX 77045 81%927$59,688$181,200$150 larger · newer homes
Houston, TX 77053 81%930$66,510$172,900$146 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes

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.