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 Paxton, IL 60957

Paxton: median income $69,014, home value $131,800, $98/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roaring Spring, PA 16673 93%511$70,464$159,500$128 pricier homes ($28K more)
Hagerstown, IN 47346 93%159$70,000$144,300$114 Very close on everything we compare
Meyersdale, PA 15552 92%481$65,551$143,000$76 Very close on everything we compare
Gallitzin, PA 16641 92%502$65,417$116,500$100 smaller
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 92%235$72,857$150,700$95 smaller
Cisco, TX 76437 92%822$60,923$117,500$79 Very close on everything we compare
Masontown, PA 15461 91%435$57,596$124,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Knightstown, IN 46148 91%143$63,914$186,800$128 pricier homes ($55K more)
Attica, IN 47918 91%48$70,317$157,300$103 pricier homes ($26K more)
Ithaca, MI 48847 91%265$66,264$172,500$123 pricier homes ($41K more)
Mckeesport, PA 15133 90%433$65,938$97,500$100 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Williamsburg, PA 16693 90%517$62,898$154,400$99 Very close on everything we compare
Russell, KY 41169 90%318$66,473$162,000$110 pricier homes ($30K more)
Cambridge City, IN 47327 90%161$68,088$124,700$84 older residents
Clinton, IN 47842 90%66$56,750$119,400$109 larger
Albia, IA 52531 90%249$73,896$162,100$87 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Shullsburg, WI 53586 90%183$70,806$166,100$106 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Eureka, KS 67045 90%475$62,629$110,100$80 smaller · older residents
Caney, KS 67333 90%483$63,103$161,200$97 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Ballinger, TX 76821 90%893$63,380$112,900$94 6 min shorter commute
Saltsburg, PA 15681 89%457$73,130$155,600$110 older residents
Port Allegany, PA 16743 89%519$54,083$120,600$107 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, WV 26034 89%396$56,556$138,400$109 older residents
Paden City, WV 26159 89%384$66,190$104,100$93 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Mc Donald, OH 44437 89%388$76,842$137,000$112 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.