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 Silvis, IL 61282

Silvis: median income $64,398, home value $160,100, $137/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milton, PA 17847 93%705$58,775$197,100$137 pricier homes ($37K more)
South Point, OH 45680 92%467$54,523$164,800$129 Very close on everything we compare
Essexville, MI 48732 92%366$57,903$169,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Norwich, NY 13815 91%766$61,469$133,900$113 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
South Hill, VA 23970 91%735$65,170$205,000$142 pricier homes ($45K more) · newer homes
Grafton, ND 58237 91%587$70,201$155,500$155 smaller
Athens, PA 18810 90%718$58,750$208,400$139 pricier homes ($48K more)
Towanda, PA 18848 90%720$59,861$175,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Grants, NM 87020 90%1,040$62,746$154,400$134 younger residents
Presque Isle, ME 04769 89%1,163$55,768$147,200$148 5 min shorter commute
Warsaw, NY 14569 89%634$61,059$152,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, NY 14892 89%715$54,043$139,000$117 more homeowners
Somerset, PA 15501 89%601$59,245$171,100$121 larger · more homeowners
Wytheville, VA 24382 89%589$57,509$163,300$157 larger
Mansfield, OH 44906 89%412$52,624$140,300$147 larger
Prairie Du Chien, WI 53821 89%112$60,647$168,300$143 more homeowners
Mauston, WI 53948 89%159$62,829$182,400$142 more homeowners
Waterloo, NY 13165 88%699$59,981$121,600$125 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Carthage, NY 13619 88%770$63,120$178,700$131 younger residents
South Charleston, WV 25309 88%510$57,937$158,000$130 more homeowners
Tarboro, NC 27886 88%793$52,850$133,200$136 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Minerva, OH 44657 88%487$62,941$165,400$133 more homeowners
Edinburgh, IN 46124 88%276$64,466$184,700$140 Very close on everything we compare
Globe, AZ 85501 88%1,246$61,983$164,200$137 more homeowners
Willcox, AZ 85643 88%1,241$57,903$173,900$133 younger residents

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.