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 Edwards, IL 61528

Edwards: median income $183,140, home value $329,300, $153/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46278 86%192$158,648$408,900$154 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger
Wichita, KS 67228 84%449$162,857$418,000$150 pricier homes ($89K more) · younger residents
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 83%136$170,491$423,200$156 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Wichita, KS 67230 82%452$149,536$405,800$149 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Mickleton, NJ 08056 81%765$171,389$473,400$223 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger
Oak Ridge, NC 27310 81%615$165,898$498,900$217 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger
Shawnee, KS 66218 80%291$168,878$436,600$207 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger
Lincoln, NE 68523 78%368$141,786$508,600$193 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($179K more) · smaller
Lenexa, KS 66220 77%294$177,206$590,500$212 pricier homes ($261K more) · larger
Monclova, OH 43542 76%314$148,657$402,000$217 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($73K more)
Fort Wayne, IN 46814 76%231$147,280$399,300$167 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Topeka, KS 66610 76%343$132,821$341,100$149 lower income ($50K less) · larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73173 76%571$143,864$360,600$207 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77059 76%830$161,944$416,700$162 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Galena, OH 43021 75%362$167,941$564,700$220 pricier homes ($235K more) · larger
Goshen, KY 40026 74%275$134,254$432,100$200 lower income ($49K less) · pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Colgate, WI 53017 74%184$153,917$521,700$221 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($192K more) · larger
Carver, MN 55315 74%338$140,893$453,000$208 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
Hanover, MN 55341 74%363$157,071$450,300$195 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($121K more) · younger residents
Edmond, OK 73025 74%548$176,149$454,700$185 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Lake Orion, MI 48360 73%359$140,865$387,500$181 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Shawnee, KS 66226 73%291$173,667$416,200$188 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · younger residents
Clarence Center, NY 14032 72%590$168,711$502,100$261 pricier homes ($173K more) · larger
Lincoln University, PA 19352 72%732$165,365$473,200$225 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger · younger residents
Germantown, TN 38139 72%393$178,661$575,500$185 pricier homes ($246K more) · 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.