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 Pearl City, IL 61062

Pearl City: median income $66,667, home value $196,900, $93/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Caney, KS 67333 95%485$63,103$161,200$97 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Murdock, MN 56271 94%345$64,861$222,700— pricier homes ($26K more)
Cairo, NE 68824 94%461$77,989$219,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Arnold, NE 69120 94%534$69,886$158,200— cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Republic, OH 44867 93%360$72,716$167,000$96 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Primghar, IA 51245 93%301$69,531$149,700$97 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Woodbine, IA 51579 93%303$72,500$204,400$121 Very close on everything we compare
Ethan, SD 57334 93%422$62,167$206,500— smaller
Neola, IA 51559 92%306$74,761$201,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Shullsburg, WI 53586 92%30$70,806$166,100$106 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Truman, MN 56088 91%256$71,354$153,300$77 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Buhler, KS 67522 91%506$72,622$146,300$109 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Gibbon, NE 68840 91%478$76,394$208,100$91 Very close on everything we compare
Shelton, NE 68876 91%472$82,207$163,800$108 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Pine Level, NC 27568 90%777$66,071$230,800— pricier homes ($34K more)
Dysart, IA 52224 90%127$69,805$177,000$90 older residents
Clara City, MN 56222 90%333$71,429$156,600$96 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Raymond, MN 56282 90%330$69,896$201,400$110 older residents
Renville, MN 56284 90%320$72,500$162,500$116 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Lyndon, KS 66451 90%396$76,908$158,500$123 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Ellis, KS 67637 90%557$74,281$158,700$92 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Laurel, NE 68745 90%370$63,953$190,600— Very close on everything we compare
Stanton, NE 68779 90%379$78,594$203,300$106 older residents
Volant, PA 16156 89%501$69,054$221,400— larger
Morocco, IN 47963 89%154$75,000$204,200$84 Very close on everything we compare

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.