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 Princeville, IL 61559

Princeville: median income $101,200, home value $183,800, $107/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nora Springs, IA 50458 92%227$99,643$157,500$89 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 91%236$93,482$204,100$112 younger residents
Durhamville, NY 13054 90%739$94,100$227,500$96 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Russell, PA 16345 90%556$95,192$186,400$137 newer homes
Danville, IA 52623 90%81$90,714$194,000$111 smaller
Kenesaw, NE 68956 89%465$94,231$203,700$123 smaller
Fairbank, IA 50629 88%166$103,106$207,100$126 smaller · newer homes
Reedsville, WI 54230 88%243$87,688$227,200$125 pricier homes ($43K more)
Sharpsville, IN 46068 87%196$98,708$189,700$154 5 min longer commute
Swayzee, IN 46986 87%208$79,438$162,600$112 smaller
Bird Island, MN 55310 87%370$87,292$160,500$113 smaller
Fertile, MN 56540 87%559$83,646$194,800$125 smaller
Panhandle, TX 79068 87%739$86,264$165,300$120 more renters
Cherry Valley, NY 13320 86%783$86,204$184,600$126 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Remington, IN 47977 86%137$80,000$167,100$87 Very close on everything we compare
Jewell, IA 50130 86%222$78,594$169,000$125 smaller
Ogden, IA 50212 86%233$81,838$221,300$150 pricier homes ($38K more)
Tyler, MN 56178 86%398$87,031$165,400$125 smaller
Nashua, MT 59248 86%954$89,821$216,000— pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Pine City, NY 14871 85%671$72,484$174,800$130 lower income ($29K less)
Arlington, OH 45814 85%319$91,115$207,000$160 newer homes
Fort Jennings, OH 45844 85%289$88,792$231,300$123 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
Russiaville, IN 46979 85%187$88,832$213,500$153 pricier homes ($30K more)
Shell Rock, IA 50670 85%191$84,679$171,500$134 smaller · younger residents
Central City, IA 52214 85%126$86,786$234,600$129 pricier homes ($51K more) · 5 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.