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 Toluca, IL 61369

Toluca: median income $68,708, home value $120,400, $106/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brook, IN 47922 95%94$61,033$125,500$111 Very close on everything we compare
Rankin, TX 79778 94%982$70,808$123,500— newer homes
Gallitzin, PA 16641 93%555$65,417$116,500$100 Very close on everything we compare
Veedersburg, IN 47987 93%116$63,333$145,200$113 larger
Fairfax, MN 55332 93%374$62,361$144,300$92 Very close on everything we compare
Ackley, IA 50601 92%229$66,250$127,200$86 Very close on everything we compare
Allison, IA 50602 92%223$67,188$118,100$108 6 min shorter commute
Hamburg, IA 51640 92%340$65,385$122,900$130 5 min shorter commute
North English, IA 52316 92%158$60,768$150,600$94 pricier homes ($30K more)
Winnebago, MN 56098 92%320$69,000$147,900$103 pricier homes ($28K more)
Mclean, TX 79057 92%739$70,865$91,300— cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Rimersburg, PA 16248 91%502$65,272$110,600$100 larger · older residents
Mount Savage, MD 21545 91%547$60,264$130,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, MI 48701 91%337$62,969$112,200$108 Very close on everything we compare
Morenci, MI 49256 91%260$62,880$129,400$98 larger
Anita, IA 50020 91%295$75,417$154,600$114 pricier homes ($34K more)
Gibbon, MN 55335 91%368$62,206$149,300$98 pricier homes ($29K more)
Emerson, NE 68733 91%401$64,479$132,600— Very close on everything we compare
Bayard, NE 69334 91%735$62,232$126,100$133 larger
Sligo, PA 16255 90%503$56,058$119,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Paden City, WV 26159 90%443$66,190$104,100$93 larger
Adena, OH 43901 90%436$63,603$107,600$114 6 min longer commute
Cambridge City, IN 47327 90%224$68,088$124,700$84 larger
Eaton, IN 47338 90%203$68,239$111,100$151 Very close on everything we compare
Hagerstown, IN 47346 90%222$70,000$144,300$114 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.