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 Benld, IL 62009

Benld: median income $45,217, home value $85,100, $95/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Van Buren, IN 46991 89%251$47,692$110,600$125 pricier homes ($26K more)
Fieldale, VA 24089 88%561$51,458$97,100$90 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35224 88%417$42,639$80,000$76 larger
Dunkirk, IN 47336 88%259$50,633$97,800$84 larger
Lyons, NE 68038 88%401$51,362$117,700$112 pricier homes ($33K more)
Benwood, WV 26031 87%487$46,797$78,300$83 more apartments and townhomes
Vickery, OH 43464 87%397$41,471$124,100$110 pricier homes ($39K more)
Horton, KS 66439 87%308$53,348$90,800$110 Very close on everything we compare
Winters, TX 79567 87%753$50,781$71,700$111 larger · newer homes
Sligo, PA 16255 85%563$56,058$119,300$93 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
New Haven, WV 25265 85%421$51,827$107,700$107 newer homes
Fairfax, MO 64446 85%308$56,949$101,800— smaller
Wymore, NE 68466 85%372$61,574$87,300$80 Very close on everything we compare
Jonesboro, IN 46938 84%241$45,884$98,800$74 Very close on everything we compare
Humboldt, NE 68376 84%334$52,000$98,600$99 older residents
Graysville, AL 35073 83%407$54,886$117,100$103 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · newer homes
Brook, IN 47922 83%178$61,033$125,500$111 pricier homes ($40K more)
Renovo, PA 17764 82%654$41,173$83,800$95 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Joanna, SC 29351 82%548$49,414$85,000$103 7 min shorter commute
Marks, MS 38646 82%335$38,618$88,300— larger · newer homes
Wakefield, MI 49968 82%510$55,759$91,800$97 older residents · more homeowners
Grant City, MO 64456 82%262$48,611$92,000— more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845 82%367$51,771$89,700$106 5 min shorter commute
Kinsley, KS 67547 82%525$52,917$73,500$75 8 min shorter commute
Healdton, OK 73438 82%542$50,286$71,200$144 larger · newer homes

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.