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 Ashkum, IL 60911

Ashkum: median income $89,792, home value $158,700, $91/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Ayr, IA 50854 94%329$81,250$161,800$78 larger
Burrton, KS 67020 94%555$80,680$130,200$77 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Shelton, NE 68876 94%564$82,207$163,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Lyndonville, NY 14098 93%518$91,042$136,700$93 larger
Wyoming, NY 14591 93%524$85,804$163,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
Odebolt, IA 51458 92%390$86,250$149,400— older residents
Armour, SD 57313 92%559$89,107$117,300— cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lyndon, KS 66451 92%439$76,908$158,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
White Deer, TX 79097 92%811$88,182$144,600— Very close on everything we compare
North Rose, NY 14516 91%587$76,000$172,400$114 larger
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 91%356$80,119$149,700$111 larger · older homes
Readlyn, IA 50668 91%253$85,956$174,000$118 older homes
Pender, NE 68047 91%462$87,375$217,000$111 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Shelby, NE 68662 91%494$89,706$168,900$93 older residents
Randolph, NE 68771 91%496$83,580$162,500— Very close on everything we compare
Luckey, OH 43443 90%236$97,917$207,100$115 pricier homes ($48K more)
Deshler, OH 43516 90%212$89,000$150,900$73 larger
Boswell, IN 47921 90%39$100,455$165,000$114 5 min longer commute
Newell, IA 50568 90%383$75,250$137,700$95 older residents
Wayland, IA 52654 90%195$84,783$149,700$102 older residents
Port Edwards, WI 54469 90%259$74,038$153,400$108 older residents
Adrian, MN 56110 90%450$77,875$176,400$103 Very close on everything we compare
Morgan, MN 56266 90%429$74,000$143,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Bessemer, PA 16112 89%389$74,821$154,500$114 Very close on everything we compare
Valley View, PA 17983 89%596$72,411$158,700$101 Very close on everything we compare

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.