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.

Reset

Towns most like Galena, IL 61036

Galena: median income $81,989, home value $279,000, $178/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bellaire, MI 49615 90%314$79,469$292,300$251 smaller
Landisville, PA 17538 88%744$86,719$299,300$188 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Huron, OH 44839 88%412$87,181$250,600$184 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Sundance, WY 82729 87%713$89,306$308,400$204 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Lewiston, NY 14092 86%580$72,218$279,900$199 younger residents · older homes
Frankenmuth, MI 48734 86%344$91,032$305,100$174 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Bethlehem, NH 03574 85%948$81,250$288,300$191 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Columbus, NC 28722 84%663$67,760$307,300$225 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min longer commute
Hendersonville, NC 28791 84%647$78,827$370,700$236 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · younger residents
Chattanooga, TN 37419 84%578$74,787$351,800$245 pricier homes ($73K more) · younger residents
Hot Springs, SD 57747 84%664$68,443$221,000$174 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Spring Green, WI 53588 83%56$83,417$292,300$232 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Washburn, WI 54891 83%295$70,536$208,800$194 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · younger residents
Randolph, VT 05060 82%899$77,317$255,500$200 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Selkirk, NY 12158 82%845$97,419$315,100$242 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Renfrew, PA 16053 82%550$76,054$297,500$218 smaller
Eagle River, WI 54521 82%248$74,071$305,100$257 pricier homes ($26K more)
Woodruff, WI 54568 82%245$72,589$281,000$223 younger residents · more homeowners
Green Lake, WI 54941 82%123$79,146$276,000$239 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64145 82%327$95,159$370,100$170 pricier homes ($91K more) · younger residents
Llano, TX 78643 82%927$68,365$362,600$239 pricier homes ($84K more)
Enfield, NH 03748 81%926$95,089$388,500$290 pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Putney, VT 05346 81%908$79,118$320,800$202 pricier homes ($42K more) · younger residents
Clear Lake, IA 50428 81%158$81,037$283,400$232 younger residents · older homes
Minocqua, WI 54548 81%241$69,569$336,400$288 pricier homes ($57K 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.