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 Alpha, IL 61413

Alpha: median income $73,125, home value $120,100, $104/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garwin, IA 50632 95%134$71,667$132,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, KS 66871 95%338$71,094$145,100— pricier homes ($25K more)
Wheeler, MI 48662 94%340$70,321$131,100$101 Very close on everything we compare
Kewanna, IN 46939 93%207$69,000$140,700— larger
Swayzee, IN 46986 92%243$79,438$162,600$112 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Unionville, MI 48767 92%391$77,938$123,100— larger
Anita, IA 50020 92%229$75,417$154,600$114 pricier homes ($35K more)
Twin Valley, MN 56584 92%509$69,625$131,600$85 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, KS 66427 92%338$79,481$133,600— Very close on everything we compare
Carrolltown, PA 15722 91%611$68,068$124,300$84 larger
Allison, IA 50602 91%164$67,188$118,100$108 more renters
Mapleton, IA 51034 91%287$66,375$120,500$104 larger · more renters
Brownsdale, MN 55918 91%216$78,523$163,700$104 pricier homes ($44K more)
Sherburn, MN 56171 91%280$72,554$169,800$122 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Hay Springs, NE 69347 91%639$76,133$116,300— Very close on everything we compare
Bay Port, MI 48720 90%402$60,250$139,100— Very close on everything we compare
Jewell, IA 50130 90%185$78,594$169,000$125 pricier homes ($49K more)
Ackley, IA 50601 90%167$66,250$127,200$86 larger
Victor, IA 52347 90%105$78,482$144,700$85 younger residents
Mellen, WI 54546 90%353$70,104$141,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Gibbon, MN 55335 90%314$62,206$149,300$98 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Morgan, MN 56266 90%319$74,000$143,400$116 larger · younger residents
Mclean, TX 79057 90%690$70,865$91,300— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Lyons Falls, NY 13368 89%784$62,159$128,700$147 Very close on everything we compare
Lilly, PA 15938 89%617$71,250$153,100$97 pricier homes ($33K 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.