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 Hanover, IL 61041

Hanover: median income $45,938, home value $114,900, $112/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Holcomb, MO 63852 95%406$46,971$92,500$118 Very close on everything we compare
Ordway, CO 81063 93%765$49,375$114,200$129 larger
Walhalla, ND 58282 92%583$52,083$107,300$121 Very close on everything we compare
West Point, KY 40177 91%373$50,577$122,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Tatum, NM 88267 91%943$52,250$111,400— 5 min shorter commute
Sligo, PA 16255 90%563$56,058$119,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Obion, TN 38240 90%418$53,095$115,200$120 newer homes
Hominy, OK 74035 90%519$47,833$108,300$125 larger
Olney Springs, CO 81062 90%772$56,250$127,300$122 Very close on everything we compare
Ulysses, PA 16948 88%645$46,116$153,800$98 pricier homes ($39K more)
Westernport, MD 21562 88%619$47,500$98,500$108 larger
Pleasant City, OH 43772 88%483$47,344$120,300$96 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Beverly, OH 45715 88%488$47,176$176,000$115 pricier homes ($61K more)
Grant City, MO 64456 88%245$48,611$92,000— older residents
Apache, OK 73006 88%669$51,563$91,900$111 larger · newer homes
Ringling, OK 73456 88%685$50,813$113,200$108 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bethel, NC 27812 87%823$53,268$112,500$139 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Lilesville, NC 28091 87%750$52,917$152,900— pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Olanta, SC 29114 87%805$56,579$116,000$86 Very close on everything we compare
New Matamoras, OH 45767 87%516$42,813$122,000$104 larger · newer homes
Olin, IA 52320 87%47$62,222$131,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Clarissa, MN 56440 87%354$53,250$129,800$115 5 min shorter commute
Greenfield, MO 65661 87%384$46,170$151,200$113 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Wetumka, OK 74883 87%581$41,696$92,000$157 larger
Bronte, TX 76933 87%904$55,104$157,500$132 pricier homes ($43K 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.