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 Galva, IL 61434

Galva: median income $56,780, home value $100,100, $69/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln, KS 67455 91%454$56,635$69,900$71 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Kinsley, KS 67547 91%546$52,917$73,500$75 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
New Castle, PA 16102 90%503$56,053$104,900$84 larger · newer homes
Wymore, NE 68466 90%354$61,574$87,300$80 smaller
Summitville, IN 46070 89%238$57,667$117,300$78 Very close on everything we compare
Laurens, IA 50554 89%272$63,802$82,800$68 smaller · newer homes
Bedford, IA 50833 89%247$61,042$112,900$69 newer homes
Sutherland, IA 51058 89%306$63,036$133,000— pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Clyde, KS 66938 89%403$55,284$80,000$84 smaller
Lyons, KS 67554 89%474$64,125$107,900$60 newer homes
Falls City, NE 68355 88%300$56,607$108,800$58 larger · newer homes
Peabody, KS 66866 87%429$58,705$97,200$46 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Newman Grove, NE 68758 87%402$56,667$132,500$101 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Superior, NE 68978 87%428$65,764$83,700$72 7 min shorter commute
Kane, PA 16735 86%584$57,489$93,900$89 larger
Bessemer, MI 49911 86%367$57,000$106,300$87 older residents
Madison, KS 66860 86%385$60,531$76,400$65 smaller
Hoisington, KS 67544 86%498$57,568$104,000$74 newer homes
Nickerson, KS 67561 86%475$57,434$95,000— smaller · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Ripley, NY 14775 85%538$49,961$113,600$43 Very close on everything we compare
Oelwein, IA 50662 85%142$48,646$107,700$68 larger · newer homes
Wilson, KS 67490 85%473$67,115$88,800$80 smaller · older residents
Ellinwood, KS 67526 85%493$57,824$123,400$77 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Gordon, NE 69343 85%634$59,741$116,700— 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Mullens, WV 25882 84%524$57,500$78,400$85 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.