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 Waterman, IL 60556

Waterman: median income $100,186, home value $234,800, $180/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spiceland, IN 47385 85%219$103,406$211,200$161 7 min shorter commute
Mount Holly Springs, PA 17065 83%615$86,406$211,300$181 larger · older residents
Lizton, IN 46149 83%174$88,750$247,800$179 newer homes
De Soto, IA 50069 83%272$98,056$232,100$202 smaller · newer homes
Friend, NE 68359 83%448$90,909$179,900$109 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Landisville, NJ 08326 82%741$79,583$276,100$219 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents
Berlin, NY 12022 82%790$96,875$208,100$221 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Windsor, OH 44099 82%403$92,895$210,000$164 newer homes
Sprakers, NY 12166 81%735$94,821$219,400$142 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Kendall, NY 14476 80%557$90,536$188,800$192 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Utica, MN 55979 80%221$85,417$279,700$173 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Union Bridge, MD 21791 79%628$93,015$379,800$188 pricier homes ($145K more) · larger · older residents
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 79%394$81,625$159,300$191 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 7 min shorter commute
North Liberty, IN 46554 79%123$88,068$203,000$154 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
Logan, IA 51546 79%362$86,910$207,900$163 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Downey, ID 83234 79%1,194$81,083$229,300$178 smaller · older residents
Bringhurst, IN 46913 78%145$91,136$171,800$183 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Westphalia, MI 48894 78%218$101,923$275,900$178 pricier homes ($41K more) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
West Concord, MN 55985 78%266$83,636$245,200$141 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Helena, OH 43435 77%284$89,000$176,400$167 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Tiro, OH 44887 77%316$85,793$135,000$159 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Collins, IA 50055 77%233$85,278$200,000$199 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Roopville, GA 30170 76%608$90,962$222,000$189 larger · older residents · newer homes
Plain, WI 53577 76%125$96,500$271,100$154 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
New Germany, MN 55367 76%340$94,107$330,800$256 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller · 8 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.