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 Gibson City, IL 60936

Gibson City: median income $51,323, home value $157,200, $146/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rocky Ford, CO 81067 98%838$50,028$154,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Clarinda, IA 51632 93%351$55,055$143,000$130 larger
Iowa Falls, IA 50126 92%291$55,185$133,300$104 Very close on everything we compare
Centerville, IA 52544 92%237$50,572$116,900$119 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Raton, NM 87740 92%900$52,815$153,100$114 larger
Sharpsville, PA 16150 91%416$56,334$148,200$147 larger
Red Oak, IA 51566 91%361$56,637$134,200$109 larger
Fairbury, NE 68352 91%465$55,370$132,200$107 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Altavista, VA 24517 90%540$53,201$145,200$151 6 min longer commute
Flora, IN 46929 90%98$56,940$186,500$129 pricier homes ($29K more)
Hampton, IA 50441 90%296$49,910$127,100$102 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Emmetsburg, IA 50536 90%373$59,261$122,000$112 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Cozad, NE 69130 90%610$63,388$154,300$126 Very close on everything we compare
Brady, TX 76825 90%889$53,665$148,800$122 larger · newer homes
Las Animas, CO 81054 90%807$48,398$134,100$109 Very close on everything we compare
Miami, AZ 85539 90%1,331$47,807$137,500$174 Very close on everything we compare
Pioneer, OH 43554 89%216$52,917$161,000$119 smaller · less walkable
Horicon, WI 53032 89%206$56,085$189,000$165 pricier homes ($32K more)
Antigo, WI 54409 89%325$53,576$123,300$133 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Cut Bank, MT 59427 89%1,303$61,094$174,300$115 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, MO 64503 89%345$53,039$140,500$129 larger
Sidney, NE 69162 89%765$60,050$149,800$187 larger
Pawhuska, OK 74056 89%502$47,311$131,000$106 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Machias, ME 04654 88%1,099$48,838$171,600$131 newer homes
Shenandoah, IA 51601 88%368$62,143$124,200$110 cheaper homes ($33K 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.