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 Saybrook, IL 61770

Saybrook: median income $60,750, home value $110,900, $96/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Akron, MI 48701 92%336$62,969$112,200$108 older residents
Petrolia, PA 16050 91%460$56,708$132,700$123 older residents
La Crosse, IN 46348 88%106$64,375$168,800$109 pricier homes ($58K more)
Brook, IN 47922 88%68$61,033$125,500$111 7 min shorter commute
Nortonville, KS 66060 88%367$77,222$155,800— pricier homes ($45K more)
Sligo, PA 16255 87%475$56,058$119,300$93 larger · older residents
Ashley, MI 48806 87%282$61,375$155,600$112 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Olin, IA 52320 87%174$62,222$131,300$109 more apartments and townhomes
Rankin, TX 79778 87%983$70,808$123,500— Very close on everything we compare
North English, IA 52316 86%201$60,768$150,600$94 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Liberal, MO 64762 86%378$58,750$108,600$90 older residents
Belfast, NY 14711 85%556$65,938$100,100$90 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Summerville, PA 15864 85%491$65,859$141,400$109 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Adena, OH 43901 85%403$63,603$107,600$114 larger · older residents
Dunkirk, OH 45836 85%258$56,250$119,700$117 older homes
Morenci, MI 49256 85%242$62,880$129,400$98 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Collins, NY 14034 84%518$62,412$151,200$134 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Van Etten, NY 14889 84%632$61,944$147,800$112 pricier homes ($37K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Peytona, WV 25154 84%398$67,243$106,900— newer homes
Bloomville, OH 44818 84%293$63,922$141,300$116 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older homes
Macy, IN 46951 84%131$55,227$150,300$134 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Worthington, IN 47471 84%121$69,609$147,900$90 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Hillsboro, IN 47949 84%76$76,429$118,800$112 Very close on everything we compare
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 84%176$61,875$167,500$140 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older residents
Walhalla, ND 58282 84%739$52,083$107,300$121 older residents · 5 min shorter 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.