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 Hinckley, IL 60520

Hinckley: median income $98,958, home value $320,500, $190/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Franklin, CT 06254 94%850$105,000$326,200$246 Very close on everything we compare
Arcadia, IN 46030 94%175$90,536$246,000$179 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Ashland, NE 68003 94%404$95,709$306,500$185 larger
Springfield, NE 68059 94%391$98,238$367,200$197 pricier homes ($47K more)
West Point, VA 23181 93%692$95,699$290,600$191 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Riverside, IA 52327 93%153$86,942$298,800$146 Very close on everything we compare
Maple Lake, MN 55358 93%358$92,039$329,500$228 larger
Henderson, MN 56044 93%328$101,250$333,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Beresford, SD 57004 93%425$88,750$264,100$168 cheaper homes ($56K less)
York, PA 17407 92%637$122,625$306,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Ellsworth, WI 54011 92%282$102,636$305,500$229 larger
Fall Creek, WI 54742 92%246$102,083$282,100$189 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Young America, MN 55397 92%338$81,957$352,800$166 pricier homes ($32K more)
Eyota, MN 55934 92%240$84,952$327,700$163 Very close on everything we compare
Parker, SD 57053 92%446$93,393$273,800$212 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 91%636$97,896$303,200$175 larger
Carroll, OH 43112 91%339$91,613$338,300$195 larger
Dallas Center, IA 50063 91%275$109,722$266,900$186 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents
Fredonia, WI 53021 91%123$89,779$315,800$216 larger
Palmyra, WI 53156 91%77$85,313$238,200$191 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Sauk City, WI 53583 91%118$97,286$344,000$227 larger
Greenleaf, WI 54126 91%177$99,310$283,900$198 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Chaseburg, WI 54621 91%181$94,286$280,000$202 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Saint Charles, MN 55972 91%229$98,878$287,800$166 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Barnesville, MN 56514 91%512$100,845$264,800$145 cheaper homes ($56K 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.