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 Kirkwood, IL 61447

Kirkwood: median income $82,583, home value $95,900, $117/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kanawha, IA 50447 95%212$76,019$86,800$116 Very close on everything we compare
Elgin, NE 68636 93%387$78,056$113,800— Very close on everything we compare
Garber, OK 73738 90%479$79,643$115,000— Very close on everything we compare
Cygnet, OH 43413 89%371$80,069$139,700$137 pricier homes ($44K more)
Armour, SD 57313 88%425$89,107$117,300— more walkable
Monroe City, IN 47557 86%238$84,375$151,600$126 pricier homes ($56K more) · newer homes
Schaller, IA 51053 86%260$72,534$91,800$129 older homes
Clarkfield, MN 56223 86%373$71,667$110,000$74 Very close on everything we compare
Early, IA 50535 85%253$91,995$94,800$82 Very close on everything we compare
Morgan, MN 56266 85%323$74,000$143,400$116 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Gilman, IA 50106 84%129$101,193$118,900$138 older residents
Graettinger, IA 51342 84%262$84,866$108,900$98 older residents
Lyndon, KS 66451 84%304$76,908$158,500$123 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Clarkson, NE 68629 84%335$78,438$132,800— pricier homes ($37K more)
White Deer, TX 79097 84%679$88,182$144,600— pricier homes ($49K more) · 5 min longer commute
Windfall, IN 46076 83%254$73,889$123,400$123 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Manly, IA 50456 83%210$81,339$124,700$119 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Newell, IA 50568 83%250$75,250$137,700$95 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents
Hamburg, IA 51640 83%256$65,385$122,900$130 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Gypsum, KS 67448 83%385$89,076$127,100$153 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Lyndonville, NY 14098 82%656$91,042$136,700$93 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Clarksville, PA 15322 82%566$87,635$111,500$100 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Grover Hill, OH 45849 82%326$77,841$124,500$99 pricier homes ($29K more) · newer homes
Payne, OH 45880 82%314$69,500$124,700$140 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Wolcott, IN 47995 82%195$80,179$161,800$133 pricier homes ($66K 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.