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 East Dubuque, IL 61025

East Dubuque: median income $70,739, home value $197,800, $126/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bloomingdale, OH 43910 95%528$71,396$181,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Inman, KS 67546 95%479$76,739$192,800$107 smaller
West Middlesex, PA 16159 94%530$69,391$178,000— Very close on everything we compare
Vienna, OH 44473 94%519$72,978$179,200$164 Very close on everything we compare
Kawkawlin, MI 48631 94%344$74,398$172,200$158 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Gilbert, MN 55741 94%357$69,545$164,500$155 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Coudersport, PA 16915 93%649$61,781$181,800$130 Very close on everything we compare
Pigeon, MI 48755 93%381$61,964$168,800$155 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Tawas City, MI 48763 93%375$59,677$162,400$149 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Garner, IA 50438 93%158$70,350$197,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Phillips, WI 54555 93%222$59,025$186,900$153 Very close on everything we compare
Eau Claire, MI 49111 92%223$70,915$176,300$141 Very close on everything we compare
Niagara, WI 54151 92%260$69,511$140,100$129 cheaper homes ($58K less)
New London, MO 63459 92%204$67,778$171,300$134 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Windsor, NY 13865 91%764$73,623$177,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Genesee, PA 16923 91%652$73,864$173,900— smaller
Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 91%516$64,904$167,800$156 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Waterford, OH 45786 91%509$70,917$218,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
North Webster, IN 46555 91%264$70,399$203,400$188 smaller
Neillsville, WI 54456 91%142$66,934$174,500$130 younger residents
Hazen, ND 58545 91%633$81,641$202,700$114 Very close on everything we compare
Lutcher, LA 70071 91%860$60,569$222,100$166 Very close on everything we compare
Kersey, PA 15846 90%621$70,662$165,700— cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Cochranton, PA 16314 90%545$70,389$164,300$141 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Cogan Station, PA 17728 90%700$77,165$235,500$172 pricier homes ($38K 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.