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 Viola, IL 61486

Viola: median income $78,889, home value $134,800, $75/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waverly, KS 66871 96%330$71,094$145,100— Very close on everything we compare
Wheeler, MI 48662 94%350$70,321$131,100$101 Very close on everything we compare
Wellsburg, IA 50680 94%148$75,956$140,900$61 Very close on everything we compare
Wellsville, MO 63384 94%156$78,281$128,600$79 larger
Venus, PA 16364 93%575$74,886$183,500— pricier homes ($49K more)
Perrysburg, NY 14129 92%603$68,542$158,100$57 Very close on everything we compare
Kewanna, IN 46939 92%218$69,000$140,700— Very close on everything we compare
Lilly, PA 15938 91%628$71,250$153,100$97 larger
Twin Valley, MN 56584 91%503$69,625$131,600$85 Very close on everything we compare
New Florence, PA 15944 90%604$69,076$155,000$87 larger
Townville, PA 16360 90%556$71,528$161,500$96 pricier homes ($27K more)
Indiahoma, OK 73552 90%635$85,500$152,900— Very close on everything we compare
Sigel, PA 15860 89%599$65,774$148,800— Very close on everything we compare
Continental, OH 45831 89%331$71,473$168,000$93 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Monroeville, IN 46773 89%297$72,813$172,300$99 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Lynn, IN 47355 89%307$73,133$117,000$84 larger
Victor, IA 52347 89%95$78,482$144,700$85 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ridgeland, WI 54763 89%283$65,417$160,200$88 pricier homes ($25K more)
Lindley, NY 14858 88%697$81,750$145,200— more apartments and townhomes
Weedville, PA 15868 88%628$70,395$112,200— more apartments and townhomes
Dornsife, PA 17823 88%721$78,864$232,100— pricier homes ($97K more)
Lore City, OH 43755 88%486$68,581$166,700$89 pricier homes ($32K more)
Amsterdam, OH 43903 88%506$73,281$135,500$99 larger · 5 min longer commute
Munger, MI 48747 88%384$81,458$141,300$109 older homes
Unionville, MI 48767 88%400$77,938$123,100— larger · older 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.