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.

Reset

Towns most like Pekin, IL 61554

Pekin: median income $65,194, home value $127,600, $107/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cumberland, MD 21502 95%573$60,725$153,700$113 pricier homes ($26K more)
Clinton, IA 52732 93%94$61,105$122,100$95 smaller
Kokomo, IN 46901 91%183$60,495$142,100$123 less walkable
Bay City, MI 48706 91%359$62,747$155,800$129 pricier homes ($28K more)
Marshalltown, IA 50158 91%199$70,367$140,700$124 younger residents
Fort Dodge, IA 50501 91%271$66,888$153,500$112 pricier homes ($26K more)
Burlington, IA 52601 90%80$60,983$124,200$101 Very close on everything we compare
Corry, PA 16407 89%526$58,606$134,000$97 smaller
Toledo, OH 43611 89%329$62,042$132,000$145 smaller
Cleveland, OH 44125 89%421$57,363$116,500$127 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, IN 47362 89%229$60,258$146,800$113 less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64133 89%278$67,750$178,500$140 pricier homes ($51K more)
Fremont, OH 43420 88%344$61,331$152,900$137 pricier homes ($25K more) · less walkable
Piqua, OH 45356 88%284$69,188$156,400$134 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · less walkable
Huntington, IN 46750 88%217$63,978$158,100$130 pricier homes ($31K more) · less walkable
Ottumwa, IA 52501 88%149$63,426$122,700$121 less walkable
Topeka, KS 66605 88%337$59,106$170,500$126 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fulton, NY 13069 87%705$63,113$121,900$145 smaller
West Mifflin, PA 15122 87%513$72,485$151,400$143 smaller
Altoona, PA 16602 87%590$55,046$125,700$93 smaller · older homes
Clearfield, PA 16830 87%585$58,304$130,300$110 smaller
Michigan City, IN 46360 87%163$59,266$167,300$157 pricier homes ($40K more)
Logansport, IN 46947 87%172$54,791$126,800$113 less walkable
Roseville, MI 48066 87%371$62,182$155,800$133 pricier homes ($28K more) · less walkable
Southgate, MI 48195 87%352$66,118$173,600$145 pricier homes ($46K 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.