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 Rossville, IL 60963

Rossville: median income $66,250, home value $98,300, $87/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nickerson, KS 67561 92%577$57,434$95,000— Very close on everything we compare
Wymore, NE 68466 91%474$61,574$87,300$80 Very close on everything we compare
Edmeston, NY 13335 90%662$65,000$125,900$96 pricier homes ($28K more)
Salisbury, PA 15558 90%456$64,038$142,000$113 pricier homes ($44K more)
Eagle Grove, IA 50533 90%359$65,595$110,200$76 larger
Newman Grove, NE 68758 90%535$56,667$132,500$101 pricier homes ($34K more)
Laurens, IA 50554 89%408$63,802$82,800$68 older residents
Clarkfield, MN 56223 89%515$71,667$110,000$74 Very close on everything we compare
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 88%476$68,347$79,200— larger · older residents
Mullens, WV 25882 88%388$57,500$78,400$85 larger
Early, IA 50535 88%415$91,995$94,800$82 higher income ($26K more)
Fontanelle, IA 50846 88%365$74,200$108,800— older residents
Battle Creek, IA 51006 88%433$75,625$84,800$124 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, IA 51462 88%375$69,286$146,300— pricier homes ($48K more)
Harvard, NE 68944 88%547$69,432$125,800— pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Grindstone, PA 15442 87%414$57,246$93,200$137 larger
Summitville, IN 46070 87%107$57,667$117,300$78 more homeowners
Kanawha, IA 50447 87%362$76,019$86,800$116 newer homes
Bedford, IA 50833 87%372$61,042$112,900$69 older residents
Sutherland, IA 51058 87%442$63,036$133,000— pricier homes ($35K more)
Truman, MN 56088 87%421$71,354$153,300$77 pricier homes ($55K more)
Electra, TX 76360 87%757$69,143$69,400$77 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 86%380$80,119$149,700$111 pricier homes ($51K more)
Lincoln, KS 67455 86%567$56,635$69,900$71 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Minneola, KS 67865 86%693$65,125$126,700$74 pricier homes ($28K more)

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.