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 Arthur, IL 61911

Arthur: median income $82,633, home value $171,600, $88/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hawarden, IA 51023 96%474$80,357$173,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Farwell, TX 79325 92%880$71,771$163,400— smaller
Hancock, MN 56244 90%547$85,417$162,100$112 smaller
Hennessey, OK 73742 90%572$70,538$171,800$92 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 89%443$71,648$161,800$96 smaller
Minneota, MN 56264 88%510$81,071$189,600$81 smaller
Renville, MN 56284 88%491$72,500$162,500$116 smaller
Friona, TX 79035 88%859$72,202$158,600$82 older residents
Scott City, MO 63780 87%182$72,171$169,600$102 6 min longer commute
Sunray, TX 79086 87%771$70,648$137,700$93 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more homeowners
Forest City, IA 50436 86%364$74,940$167,900$96 Very close on everything we compare
Abbotsford, WI 54405 86%375$69,659$177,900$112 smaller
Windom, MN 56101 86%449$77,083$183,700$117 older residents
Parkston, SD 57366 86%554$78,155$184,600$104 smaller · older residents
Memphis, MO 63555 86%204$67,426$170,600$60 Very close on everything we compare
Schuyler, NE 68661 86%467$83,279$155,200$95 larger · more walkable
Carey, OH 43316 85%281$78,828$167,300$110 older residents · older homes
Alta, IA 51002 85%411$70,625$167,100$118 smaller
West Liberty, IA 52776 85%196$79,665$204,000$126 pricier homes ($32K more)
Elkton, SD 57026 85%518$80,568$213,200$130 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Martin, SD 57551 85%727$70,096$161,900— smaller
Castorland, NY 13620 84%728$70,087$181,800$79 smaller · 8 min longer commute
Hicksville, OH 43526 84%223$66,912$168,400$117 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Humboldt, IA 50548 84%364$76,214$188,200$113 older residents
Loyal, WI 54446 84%362$74,342$159,600$112 8 min longer 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.