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 Bushnell, IL 61422

Bushnell: median income $68,207, home value $78,400, $76/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rimersburg, PA 16248 89%576$65,272$110,600$100 pricier homes ($32K more)
Laurens, IA 50554 88%274$63,802$82,800$68 smaller · younger residents
Belmont, NY 14813 87%657$63,750$94,300$71 Very close on everything we compare
Nanty Glo, PA 15943 87%613$56,200$89,500$74 Very close on everything we compare
Belle Plaine, IA 52208 87%130$74,127$120,700$91 pricier homes ($42K more)
Herington, KS 67449 87%364$69,357$97,800$52 younger residents
Kane, PA 16735 86%614$57,489$93,900$89 larger · younger residents
Cambridge City, IN 47327 86%286$68,088$124,700$84 pricier homes ($46K more)
Villisca, IA 50864 86%236$69,861$109,900$67 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · newer homes
Eureka, KS 67045 86%363$62,629$110,100$80 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Wilson, KS 67490 86%439$67,115$88,800$80 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Brownsville, PA 15417 85%561$55,395$106,400$78 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 85%619$68,347$79,200— younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Wakefield, MI 49968 85%410$55,759$91,800$97 more homeowners
Wymore, NE 68466 85%326$61,574$87,300$80 smaller · younger residents
Crawford, NE 69339 85%682$65,529$95,800— smaller
Johnstown, PA 15909 84%611$61,016$110,200$107 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Ackley, IA 50601 84%191$66,250$127,200$86 pricier homes ($49K more)
Bedford, IA 50833 84%222$61,042$112,900$69 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Appleton, MN 56208 84%425$59,766$102,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Chappell, NE 69129 84%625$67,105$107,000— pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Hollsopple, PA 15935 83%608$61,941$99,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Humboldt, NE 68376 83%287$52,000$98,600$99 smaller
Dolgeville, NY 13329 82%828$60,104$121,700$101 pricier homes ($43K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Andover, NY 14806 82%668$74,688$93,200$65 smaller · younger residents · newer homes

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.