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 Chenoa, IL 61726

Chenoa: median income $77,800, home value $135,800, $112/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fountain City, IN 47341 92%208$81,750$157,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Lyndon, KS 66451 92%397$76,908$158,500$123 smaller
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 91%319$80,119$149,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Buhler, KS 67522 91%515$72,622$146,300$109 newer homes
Ellis, KS 67637 91%586$74,281$158,700$92 newer homes
Woodbine, IA 51579 90%369$72,500$204,400$121 pricier homes ($69K more)
Armour, SD 57313 90%524$89,107$117,300— smaller
Sterling, KS 67579 90%535$65,294$158,000— Very close on everything we compare
Hooper, NE 68031 90%410$80,605$208,300$124 pricier homes ($73K more)
Cherokee, OK 73728 90%587$67,417$118,600— older residents
Mount Ayr, IA 50854 89%288$81,250$161,800$78 pricier homes ($26K more)
Neola, IA 51559 89%365$74,761$201,800$123 pricier homes ($66K more)
Elgin, NE 68636 89%492$78,056$113,800— smaller
Randolph, NE 68771 89%460$83,580$162,500— pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Leipsic, OH 45856 88%248$86,494$165,100$117 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · newer homes
Pandora, OH 45877 88%250$68,665$179,200$145 pricier homes ($43K more)
Menno, SD 57045 88%485$76,042$117,900$108 smaller · older residents
Halstead, KS 67056 88%506$78,958$169,200$111 pricier homes ($33K more) · newer homes
Pender, NE 68047 88%425$87,375$217,000$111 pricier homes ($81K more)
Stanton, NE 68779 88%448$78,594$203,300$106 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Wisner, NE 68791 88%433$69,018$165,300$137 pricier homes ($30K more)
Arnold, NE 69120 88%597$69,886$158,200— smaller
Tahoka, TX 79373 88%890$74,728$137,100$116 newer homes
Earlville, NY 13332 87%692$79,737$140,300$87 more apartments and townhomes
North Rose, NY 14516 87%629$76,000$172,400$114 pricier homes ($37K more) · more homeowners

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.