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 Minier, IL 61759

Minier: median income $91,591, home value $161,700, $114/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, NY 13112 92%690$96,615$195,400$160 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Clayville, NY 13322 92%746$91,369$204,800$141 pricier homes ($43K more)
Lyndon, KS 66451 92%361$76,908$158,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Stafford, NY 14143 91%605$95,893$181,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Fountain City, IN 47341 91%235$81,750$157,900$100 larger
Sully, IA 50251 91%200$91,061$186,200$153 Very close on everything we compare
West Bend, IA 50597 91%317$92,000$179,700— Very close on everything we compare
Odebolt, IA 51458 91%334$86,250$149,400— older residents
Pender, NE 68047 91%401$87,375$217,000$111 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Shell Rock, IA 50670 90%231$84,679$171,500$134 larger
Alton, IA 51003 90%388$101,250$232,700$119 pricier homes ($71K more)
Buhler, KS 67522 90%479$72,622$146,300$109 larger
Axtell, NE 68924 90%515$85,000$236,800$103 pricier homes ($75K more)
Oriskany, NY 13424 89%743$84,844$208,200$163 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Lyndonville, NY 14098 89%596$91,042$136,700$93 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Luckey, OH 43443 89%313$97,917$207,100$115 pricier homes ($45K more)
Marcus, IA 51035 89%373$79,338$209,700$109 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Adrian, MN 56110 89%404$77,875$176,400$103 more single-family homes
Olpe, KS 66865 89%397$93,333$181,600$125 newer homes
Weeping Water, NE 68463 89%360$85,972$199,500$128 pricier homes ($38K more)
Hartwick, NY 13348 88%753$80,245$170,400$151 older residents
Mannsville, NY 13661 88%715$82,297$183,400$117 Very close on everything we compare
North Rose, NY 14516 88%666$76,000$172,400$114 larger
Leipsic, OH 45856 88%282$86,494$165,100$117 larger
Sweetser, IN 46987 88%187$80,893$152,500— Very close on everything we compare

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.