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 Rantoul, IL 61866

Rantoul: median income $50,686, home value $121,300, $112/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 94%296$49,798$139,100$132 smaller
Pontiac, MI 48340 92%299$47,891$119,900$116 larger
Princeton, WV 24740 91%429$44,793$132,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47710 91%162$47,292$147,300$125 pricier homes ($26K more)
Blytheville, AR 72315 91%318$52,259$134,600$89 Very close on everything we compare
Wilkes Barre, PA 18706 90%643$58,558$138,300$121 Very close on everything we compare
Collinsville, VA 24078 90%509$53,665$143,400$119 smaller
Laurinburg, NC 28352 90%610$43,728$118,600$109 larger · newer homes
Tifton, GA 31794 90%664$46,056$130,100$123 larger · newer homes
Laurel, MS 39440 90%597$46,947$125,400$111 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Creek, MI 49037 90%207$42,690$99,600$137 larger
Jackson, MI 49202 90%236$42,632$116,100$122 older homes
Wichita, KS 67216 90%526$48,902$94,900$110 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Lawton, OK 73501 90%685$49,741$133,000$119 larger
Beaumont, TX 77708 90%780$56,586$158,500$109 pricier homes ($37K more)
Moultrie, GA 31768 89%677$46,858$143,800$141 larger · newer homes
Sylacauga, AL 35150 89%504$45,768$132,100$100 6 min longer commute
Mansfield, OH 44907 89%297$48,008$144,800$142 older residents
Waco, TX 76711 89%789$53,185$153,000$125 pricier homes ($32K more)
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 88%626$49,502$124,300$126 larger
Sandersville, GA 31082 88%586$57,308$121,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Anniston, AL 36206 88%473$51,116$130,500$113 more single-family homes
Jackson, TN 38301 88%327$43,227$132,900$128 larger
Niles, OH 44446 88%391$50,468$114,400$127 older residents
Canton, OH 44707 88%358$44,943$109,100$114 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.