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 Onarga, IL 60955

Onarga: median income $79,034, home value $108,700, $43/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clarkson, NE 68629 93%478$78,438$132,800— Very close on everything we compare
Leigh, NE 68643 87%485$77,125$156,900— pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
New Riegel, OH 44853 84%245$90,281$156,100— pricier homes ($47K more)
St John, KS 67576 84%604$76,125$118,600$54 Very close on everything we compare
Sutherland, IA 51058 83%416$63,036$133,000— smaller
Lake City, IA 51449 83%365$75,329$115,800— older residents
Elgin, NE 68636 83%530$78,056$113,800— smaller · newer homes
Odebolt, IA 51458 81%391$86,250$149,400— pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · newer homes
Lenox, IA 50851 80%344$70,926$121,000— more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Clarkfield, MN 56223 80%486$71,667$110,000$74 Very close on everything we compare
Golden Meadow, LA 70357 80%793$71,383$132,900$45 more renters · newer homes
Garber, OK 73738 80%595$79,643$115,000— smaller · younger residents · newer homes
Nichols, NY 13812 79%610$82,679$143,800$49 pricier homes ($35K more) · more renters · newer homes
Bay Port, MI 48720 79%321$60,250$139,100— pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · newer homes
Unionville, MI 48767 79%308$77,938$123,100— older residents · 6 min longer commute
Armour, SD 57313 79%560$89,107$117,300— smaller
Humboldt, KS 66748 79%445$59,871$114,300$55 newer homes
Hanover, KS 66945 79%471$69,688$118,000— smaller · younger residents
Madison, NE 68748 79%498$69,740$148,800$68 pricier homes ($40K more) · more renters
Randolph, NE 68771 79%497$83,580$162,500— pricier homes ($54K more) · more renters
Sheffield, PA 16347 78%471$58,125$79,100$39 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
Rockford, IA 50468 78%302$73,403$173,700— pricier homes ($65K more)
Scranton, IA 51462 78%352$69,286$146,300— pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · more renters
Peabody, KS 66866 78%517$58,705$97,200$46 7 min longer commute · more renters
Hay Springs, NE 69347 78%768$76,133$116,300— older residents

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.