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 Atlanta, IL 61723

Atlanta: median income $85,230, home value $150,800, $113/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boswell, IN 47921 95%99$100,455$165,000$114 Very close on everything we compare
Wayland, IA 52654 95%141$84,783$149,700$102 Very close on everything we compare
Wyoming, NY 14591 94%603$85,804$163,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
Royal Center, IN 46978 94%149$78,750$130,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Nortonville, KS 66060 94%329$77,222$155,800— smaller
Mount Hope, KS 67108 94%481$87,679$160,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
White Deer, TX 79097 94%731$88,182$144,600— Very close on everything we compare
Fredericktown, PA 15333 93%488$89,333$185,600$112 pricier homes ($35K more)
Vega, TX 79092 93%799$83,068$176,700$136 pricier homes ($26K more)
East Bethany, NY 14054 92%602$79,286$172,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
North Rose, NY 14516 92%666$76,000$172,400$114 5 min shorter commute
Shirley, IN 47384 92%198$74,167$158,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 92%206$72,857$150,700$95 Very close on everything we compare
Shullsburg, WI 53586 92%168$70,806$166,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Boyd, WI 54726 92%336$78,500$192,100$114 pricier homes ($41K more)
Udall, KS 67146 92%468$79,688$164,400$116 newer homes
Shelton, NE 68876 92%501$82,207$163,800$108 6 min shorter commute
Hagerstown, IN 47346 91%216$70,000$144,300$114 larger
La Porte City, IA 50651 91%210$88,333$187,600$134 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Benton, WI 53803 91%169$79,545$163,700$115 newer homes
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068 91%341$74,250$191,800$116 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Lyndon, KS 66451 91%362$76,908$158,500$123 6 min shorter commute
Friend, NE 68359 91%424$90,909$179,900$109 pricier homes ($29K more)
Shelby, NE 68662 91%434$89,706$168,900$93 smaller
Windfall, IN 46076 90%173$73,889$123,400$123 cheaper homes ($27K less)

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.