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 Peru, IL 61354

Peru: median income $76,392, home value $158,500, $155/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Syracuse, NY 13212 92%676$81,085$169,200$191 larger
Williamsport, PA 17702 92%627$70,210$196,900$146 pricier homes ($38K more)
Saint Marys, OH 45885 92%253$78,550$164,700$151 younger residents
Iron Mountain, MI 49801 92%315$67,337$168,700$125 Very close on everything we compare
Pipestone, MN 56164 92%406$74,201$149,800$146 smaller
Van Wert, OH 45891 91%238$64,272$152,100$133 larger
Boone, IA 50036 91%250$79,255$194,400$171 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Osage, IA 50461 91%232$68,886$180,400$134 smaller
Manchester, IA 52057 91%143$69,635$184,300$142 pricier homes ($26K more)
Montevideo, MN 56265 91%415$74,848$162,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, MO 64505 91%318$73,298$191,100$132 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Wichita, KS 67204 91%503$71,999$163,300$155 larger · younger residents
Canastota, NY 13032 90%694$81,171$165,800$153 7 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14622 90%605$75,439$170,600$189 Very close on everything we compare
Ellwood City, PA 16117 90%463$73,045$153,600$135 larger · 6 min longer commute
Pittston, PA 18641 90%694$75,708$151,700$154 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Napoleon, OH 43545 90%258$78,548$170,900$151 younger residents
Brookpark, OH 44142 90%379$71,332$169,600$207 larger
Wabash, IN 46992 90%176$66,220$159,900$118 larger
Vinton, IA 52349 90%159$71,314$181,200$135 Very close on everything we compare
Albert Lea, MN 56007 90%269$68,846$166,900$131 larger
Saint Marys, PA 15857 89%548$67,662$150,100$161 Very close on everything we compare
North East, PA 16428 89%482$78,675$193,300$168 pricier homes ($35K more)
Old Forge, PA 18518 89%694$71,812$174,400$148 more apartments and townhomes
Akron, OH 44319 89%396$79,221$196,600$172 pricier homes ($38K more) · 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.