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 Hamel, IL 62046

Hamel: median income $108,036, home value $250,000, $150/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ropesville, TX 79358 90%782$90,333$217,600$206 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Arcadia, IN 46030 89%221$90,536$246,000$179 larger
Chaseburg, WI 54621 89%337$94,286$280,000$202 pricier homes ($30K more)
Wentworth, NH 03282 88%989$98,333$304,500$208 pricier homes ($55K more)
Elgin, MN 55932 88%383$100,078$316,500$120 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Nicollet, MN 56074 88%434$92,813$293,700$160 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Yutan, NE 68073 88%382$112,460$263,400$148 larger
Elm Creek, NE 68836 88%521$86,806$224,800$115 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Killdeer, ND 58640 87%876$100,688$343,700$142 pricier homes ($94K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Olpe, KS 66865 87%345$93,333$181,600$125 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Colwich, KS 67030 87%424$100,192$284,800$138 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Louisville, NE 68037 87%366$107,839$245,800$167 larger
Battle Creek, NE 68715 87%460$95,714$238,800$123 larger
Pedricktown, NJ 08067 86%773$111,912$325,600$154 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · older homes
Alton, IA 51003 86%428$101,250$232,700$119 larger
Larchwood, IA 51241 86%464$87,446$280,600$145 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Lisbon, IA 52253 86%225$104,821$238,400$167 larger
Arlington, WI 53911 86%308$100,625$296,100$222 pricier homes ($46K more)
Lewiston, MN 55952 86%366$91,389$228,200$139 larger
Courtland, MN 56021 86%439$96,563$276,800$140 pricier homes ($27K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Barnesville, MN 56514 86%631$100,845$264,800$145 larger
Parker, SD 57053 86%491$93,393$273,800$212 larger
Sturgeon, MO 65284 86%133$97,434$216,500$210 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Wilson, TX 79381 86%765$97,625$228,300$179 more homeowners
York, PA 17407 85%704$122,625$306,800$168 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger

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.