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 New Douglas, IL 62074

New Douglas: median income $79,808, home value $261,400, $90/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Deer Park, WI 54007 93%449$85,398$309,400— pricier homes ($48K more)
Genoa, WI 54632 93%326$82,500$236,100— cheaper homes ($25K less)
Petersburg, PA 16669 91%633$78,977$215,500$113 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Dornsife, PA 17823 91%699$78,864$232,100— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Rothsay, MN 56579 91%618$89,583$235,500$119 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Rosebud, MO 63091 91%98$80,000$215,700$78 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Lawtons, NY 14091 90%617$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($25K less)
Cleveland, SC 29635 90%477$71,844$228,700$106 cheaper homes ($33K less) · newer homes
New Virginia, IA 50210 90%259$87,813$324,600$108 pricier homes ($63K more)
Ettrick, WI 54627 90%368$77,212$223,800$93 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Dubois, IN 47527 89%163$91,169$273,700$92 larger
Arpin, WI 54410 89%385$84,135$213,200— cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Wanatah, IN 46390 88%225$87,639$228,000$130 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Liberty, PA 16930 87%688$71,111$197,800— cheaper homes ($64K less)
Thornton, WV 26440 87%527$92,824$216,800— cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min longer commute
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 87%402$78,824$222,900$128 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · younger residents
Moravia, IA 52571 87%211$81,953$197,800$139 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Altura, MN 55910 87%375$76,389$259,100$134 6 min shorter commute
Swanville, MN 56382 87%542$76,125$277,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 87%299$79,990$225,700$107 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Springville, PA 18844 86%752$92,750$246,300— more apartments and townhomes
Tornado, WV 25202 86%428$96,328$198,600$122 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Bryant, WI 54418 86%432$80,000$195,100— cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Almond, WI 54909 86%368$80,417$195,800$139 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Wilton, ND 58579 86%794$93,750$281,500$127 older residents

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.