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 Mount Morris, IL 61054

Mount Morris: median income $47,467, home value $121,400, $103/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hampton, IA 50441 96%199$49,910$127,100$102 larger
Bellaire, OH 43906 94%473$46,380$113,900$83 larger
Kahoka, MO 63445 93%163$48,370$109,100$91 newer homes
Pawhuska, OK 74056 93%521$47,311$131,000$106 younger residents
Charleston, WV 25315 92%492$55,083$90,200$98 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Titusville, PA 16354 91%502$48,963$102,500$83 larger
Raton, NM 87740 91%874$52,815$153,100$114 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Limestone, ME 04750 90%1,112$48,750$96,600$121 smaller
Afton, NY 13730 90%711$53,348$138,500$136 Very close on everything we compare
Emporium, PA 15834 90%577$50,609$87,400$89 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Logan, WV 25601 90%489$47,333$94,900$82 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Sturgis, KY 42459 90%320$51,563$96,600$105 Very close on everything we compare
Iowa Falls, IA 50126 90%199$55,185$133,300$104 larger
Thayer, MO 65791 90%397$42,470$100,500$104 newer homes
Dolgeville, NY 13329 89%749$60,104$121,700$101 6 min longer commute
Chase City, VA 23924 89%688$44,291$146,900$122 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · newer homes
Cadiz, OH 43907 89%454$46,941$119,800$127 7 min longer commute
East Palestine, OH 44413 89%468$50,999$122,600$119 larger · younger residents
Toledo, IA 52342 89%161$57,813$142,700$102 Very close on everything we compare
Chisholm, MN 55719 89%412$53,647$123,100$106 larger
Morrill, NE 69358 89%743$52,159$152,800$137 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Seymour, TX 76380 89%792$45,880$103,100$115 6 min shorter commute
Waverly, NY 14892 88%661$54,043$139,000$117 larger
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 88%560$52,500$102,500$92 younger residents
Brewster, OH 44613 88%417$58,125$147,200$113 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller

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.