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 Apple River, IL 61001

Apple River: median income $77,841, home value $300,300, $182/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dent, MN 56528 95%396$79,500$319,300$248 Very close on everything we compare
Lovell, ME 04051 94%970$80,625$295,000$233 Very close on everything we compare
Birchwood, WI 54817 94%231$83,036$275,000$229 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Cushing, MN 56443 94%340$71,310$341,200$201 pricier homes ($41K more)
Andes, NY 13731 93%783$73,750$291,300$214 Very close on everything we compare
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 93%633$68,500$307,700— Very close on everything we compare
Easton, KS 66020 93%338$78,594$320,100— Very close on everything we compare
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 92%287$78,750$269,400— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Surry, ME 04684 91%1,089$74,508$296,300$251 Very close on everything we compare
Scroggins, TX 75480 91%707$73,920$299,600$170 Very close on everything we compare
Darwin, MN 55324 90%281$83,269$355,100$196 pricier homes ($55K more)
Lakehead, CA 96051 90%1,659$69,688$360,000$170 pricier homes ($60K more)
Jefferson, NH 03583 89%944$67,188$296,700$196 6 min longer commute
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 89%857$71,417$253,600$208 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Danby, VT 05739 89%866$75,000$296,500$206 older homes
Brackney, PA 18812 89%726$89,688$271,100$209 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Doswell, VA 23047 89%738$81,136$396,300$226 pricier homes ($96K more)
Iron River, WI 54847 89%291$68,795$266,600$236 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Friendship, ME 04547 88%1,049$75,625$275,000$242 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older homes
Shoreham, VT 05770 88%851$92,188$320,000$217 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, VT 05828 88%911$72,121$279,100$208 larger · older homes
East Nassau, NY 12062 88%845$87,679$249,600$217 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Vermontville, NY 12989 88%816$84,464$228,400$199 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older homes
Union Dale, PA 18470 88%748$73,654$227,600$164 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Swanton, MD 21561 88%604$73,858$328,700$295 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger

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.