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 Wataga, IL 61488

Wataga: median income $68,333, home value $112,900, $125/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morton, MN 56270 94%343$61,944$104,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Oran, MO 63771 94%274$70,603$133,400$117 larger
Afton, IA 50830 93%204$61,094$113,300$114 larger
Lenox, IA 50851 93%224$70,926$121,000— larger
Frankford, MO 63441 93%119$77,083$105,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Alden, IA 50006 92%191$69,783$121,200$101 Very close on everything we compare
Eddyville, IA 52553 92%123$64,583$150,000— pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
La Grange, MO 63448 92%94$61,417$117,800$137 larger
Swanquarter, NC 27885 91%851$59,784$124,600$159 Very close on everything we compare
Morgan, MN 56266 91%331$74,000$143,400$116 pricier homes ($31K more)
Knoxville, AR 72845 91%425$63,462$118,500$124 newer homes
Sherman, NY 14781 90%557$61,625$145,300$103 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Cygnet, OH 43413 90%345$80,069$139,700$137 pricier homes ($27K more) · older homes
Corydon, IA 50060 90%160$63,438$117,300$106 larger
Livingston, WI 53554 90%130$74,063$175,000$124 pricier homes ($62K more)
Unity, WI 54488 90%263$63,571$142,400$116 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Woonsocket, SD 57385 90%456$70,404$126,900$152 Very close on everything we compare
Paoli, OK 73074 90%573$78,088$139,600— pricier homes ($27K more)
Eden, TX 76837 90%861$66,528$85,100$136 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Winthrop, NY 13697 89%823$75,953$128,100$103 larger · older residents
Corsica, PA 15829 89%576$64,167$140,700$123 pricier homes ($28K more)
Providence, NC 27315 89%663$65,272$149,600$116 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Rawson, OH 45881 89%338$73,775$154,600$134 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Kanawha, IA 50447 89%223$76,019$86,800$116 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Farmington, IA 52626 89%81$59,342$105,600$160 6 min longer commute

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.