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 Toulon, IL 61483

Toulon: median income $63,558, home value $109,100, $110/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Adena, OH 43901 96%474$63,603$107,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Hollsopple, PA 15935 94%574$61,941$99,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Summerville, PA 15864 93%556$65,859$141,400$109 pricier homes ($32K more)
South Dayton, NY 14138 92%564$56,868$111,700$134 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585 92%298$71,346$120,600$84 smaller
Brighton, IA 52540 92%102$55,000$115,300$90 smaller
Chappell, NE 69129 92%655$67,105$107,000— older residents
Cattaraugus, NY 14719 91%572$62,188$115,100$147 larger
Rimersburg, PA 16248 90%539$65,272$110,600$100 larger
Gallitzin, PA 16641 90%593$65,417$116,500$100 Very close on everything we compare
Patton, PA 16668 90%587$58,750$114,700$85 larger
Mount Savage, MD 21545 90%586$60,264$130,700$111 6 min shorter commute
North English, IA 52316 90%119$60,768$150,600$94 pricier homes ($42K more)
Burlingame, KS 66413 90%355$65,179$124,000$130 6 min longer commute
Sligo, PA 16255 89%540$56,058$119,300$93 newer homes
Camden, IN 46917 89%178$61,643$143,900$132 pricier homes ($35K more)
Brook, IN 47922 89%132$61,033$125,500$111 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, MI 48701 89%365$62,969$112,200$108 newer homes
Greene, IA 50636 89%195$70,066$154,700$86 pricier homes ($46K more)
Gibbon, MN 55335 89%337$62,206$149,300$98 pricier homes ($40K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Troy, KS 66087 89%292$56,875$127,300$133 newer homes
Bayard, NE 69334 89%697$62,232$126,100$133 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomville, OH 44818 88%358$63,922$141,300$116 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Royal Center, IN 46978 88%176$78,750$130,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 88%139$72,857$150,700$95 pricier homes ($42K more)

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.