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 Lynn Center, IL 61262

Lynn Center: median income $86,250, home value $244,700, $119/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scenery Hill, PA 15360 95%544$85,341$246,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Dornsife, PA 17823 94%707$78,864$232,100— Very close on everything we compare
West Mansfield, OH 43358 94%361$89,121$218,600$133 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Central City, IA 52214 94%87$86,786$234,600$129 larger
Darien Center, NY 14040 93%622$88,779$210,100$141 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Farmersville, OH 45325 93%330$81,250$234,600$141 larger
Rose Creek, MN 55970 93%205$85,000$211,900$161 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Rothsay, MN 56579 93%467$89,583$235,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, NJ 08311 92%807$86,324$247,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Hookstown, PA 15050 92%519$91,406$209,800$134 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Sterling, OH 44276 92%443$86,583$231,300$152 larger
Lucas, OH 44843 92%415$90,366$208,700$127 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Coggon, IA 52218 92%93$82,344$180,700$121 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Brooten, MN 56316 92%378$71,111$218,000$107 cheaper homes ($27K less)
New Salem, ND 58563 92%669$78,214$219,700$124 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Turbotville, PA 17772 91%706$81,146$241,900$136 larger
Tornado, WV 25202 91%494$96,328$198,600$122 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Flat Rock, IN 47234 91%274$101,708$199,800$148 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 91%151$84,609$217,500$101 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Casco, WI 54205 91%266$90,781$252,900$140 larger · newer homes
Eland, WI 54427 91%251$83,958$189,800$134 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Stewart, MN 55385 91%316$78,125$206,300$111 cheaper homes ($38K less)
New Richland, MN 56072 91%242$80,417$205,400$142 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Nashua, MT 59248 91%915$89,821$216,000— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Industry, PA 15052 90%519$73,352$193,100$137 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger

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.