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 Secor, IL 61771

Secor: median income $101,600, home value $317,900, $82/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 97%854$95,000$331,900— Very close on everything we compare
Marilla, NY 14102 88%563$119,327$259,000— cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Humboldt, SD 57035 85%453$99,565$326,500— younger residents
Elgin, MN 55932 84%285$100,078$316,500$120 larger
Agency, MO 64401 84%304$99,398$271,900— cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Treynor, IA 51575 83%340$112,115$304,500$128 older residents
Adams, NE 68301 83%389$114,408$299,500$154 Very close on everything we compare
Rothsay, MN 56579 82%536$89,583$235,500$119 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Dubois, IN 47527 81%199$91,169$273,700$92 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Maxwell, IA 50161 81%236$98,519$256,500$135 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Van Horne, IA 52346 81%178$113,342$247,100$114 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older homes
Deer Park, WI 54007 81%348$85,398$309,400— more renters
Radnor, OH 43066 80%313$129,012$389,400$128 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($72K more)
Toddville, IA 52341 80%165$91,250$371,800$163 pricier homes ($54K more)
Amherst Junction, WI 54407 80%262$101,563$323,900$139 8 min shorter commute
Sherrill, IA 52073 79%157$95,526$297,400$128 Very close on everything we compare
Springville, PA 18844 78%690$92,750$246,300— cheaper homes ($72K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tornado, WV 25202 78%421$96,328$198,600$122 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Hickman, TN 38567 78%363$100,368$340,500— more renters · newer homes
Cutler, IN 46920 78%142$100,074$280,500— cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Westpoint, IN 47992 78%112$125,526$240,900$123 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · newer homes
Hope, MI 48628 78%324$93,854$215,600$135 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Adams, MN 55909 78%269$96,736$213,200$122 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older residents · older homes
Battle Ground, IN 47920 77%122$90,441$276,300$151 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Genoa, WI 54632 77%222$82,500$236,100— cheaper homes ($82K 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.