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 University Park, IL 60484

University Park: median income $73,266, home value $154,600, $111/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cobleskill, NY 12043 76%683$64,583$186,000$150 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Ulysses, KS 67880 75%773$66,923$110,700— cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Magnolia, NC 28453 74%692$61,165$140,500$116 smaller · less walkable · newer homes
Potosi, MO 63664 73%293$61,216$125,100$134 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · less walkable
Jena, LA 71342 73%717$72,154$120,900$108 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
Jemison, AL 35085 71%587$70,862$143,500$140 more homeowners · less walkable
Tickfaw, LA 70466 70%767$65,807$166,900$147 larger · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Odessa, TX 79764 70%1,048$65,170$143,500— larger · 10 min shorter commute
Casselton, ND 58012 69%603$75,000$283,700$152 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Independence, LA 70443 69%763$57,464$163,900$157 6 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Groesbeck, TX 76642 68%840$62,243$189,000$108 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Edgewood, MD 21040 66%615$81,704$238,000$164 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · older residents
Defuniak Springs, FL 32435 66%746$65,313$224,800$156 pricier homes ($70K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Hamilton, MO 64644 66%350$74,408$193,600$119 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Elm Mott, TX 76640 66%852$66,641$166,900$149 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Winnie, TX 77665 66%885$78,590$169,900$149 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Pulaski, NY 13142 65%607$73,854$171,700$109 older residents · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Decatur, GA 30035 65%566$66,799$244,200$142 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger · older residents
Augusta, KY 41002 65%270$68,047$142,000$140 smaller · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Oak Hill, OH 45656 65%323$59,395$116,700$140 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Alexandria, IN 46001 65%135$70,962$154,700$97 larger · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Gilmer, TX 75644 65%723$57,633$163,000$135 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hempstead, TX 77445 65%913$65,909$270,400$165 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · newer homes
Poultney, VT 05764 64%751$72,686$204,800$155 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Mount Holly Springs, PA 17065 64%558$86,406$211,300$181 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute

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.