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 Edelstein, IL 61526

Edelstein: median income $118,393, home value $262,100, $117/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tecumseh, KS 66542 88%342$108,218$234,700$151 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Lohman, MO 65053 87%223$120,870$341,400$144 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Amherst Junction, WI 54407 85%246$101,563$323,900$139 pricier homes ($62K more)
Harwood, ND 58042 85%554$137,500$347,100$159 pricier homes ($85K more) · 7 min longer commute
Hudson, IA 50643 84%179$125,804$244,400$166 larger
Treynor, IA 51575 84%314$112,115$304,500$128 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Cadyville, NY 12918 82%845$91,951$206,700$146 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Bennet, NE 68317 81%362$108,056$294,100$166 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Brownstown, PA 17508 80%704$104,597$347,800$131 pricier homes ($86K more) · younger residents · more walkable
Dike, IA 50624 80%188$96,713$260,100$156 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Marilla, NY 14102 79%582$119,327$259,000— larger · 9 min longer commute
Westpoint, IN 47992 79%139$125,526$240,900$123 larger · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Van Horne, IA 52346 79%150$113,342$247,100$114 7 min longer commute · older homes
Courtland, MN 56021 79%334$96,563$276,800$140 Very close on everything we compare
Sabin, MN 56580 79%533$107,813$282,200$165 Very close on everything we compare
Pedricktown, NJ 08067 78%750$111,912$325,600$154 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Jefferson, SD 57038 78%378$106,250$332,300$185 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · more walkable
Thompson, ND 58278 78%600$111,250$313,400$209 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Hoagland, IN 46745 77%239$89,643$242,400$143 lower income ($29K less) · larger
Battle Ground, IN 47920 77%147$90,441$276,300$151 lower income ($28K less) · larger
Denver, IA 50622 77%185$95,089$254,100$144 larger · younger residents
Pleasanton, NE 68866 77%498$94,792$262,300— Very close on everything we compare
Duncan Falls, OH 43734 76%410$113,000$226,200$179 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Louisville, NE 68037 76%345$107,839$245,800$167 larger · 7 min longer commute
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 75%872$95,000$331,900— pricier homes ($70K more) · 7 min longer commute · more walkable

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.