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 South Roxana, IL 62087

South Roxana: median income $60,214, home value $88,700, $102/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olanta, SC 29114 91%657$56,579$116,000$86 pricier homes ($27K more)
Union City, OH 45390 89%297$52,150$118,100$88 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Savannah, NY 13146 88%753$61,842$98,400$80 more homeowners
Redkey, IN 47373 88%281$51,532$98,900$109 Very close on everything we compare
Leon, IA 50144 88%236$63,333$130,800$108 pricier homes ($42K more)
Tulsa, OK 74130 88%369$46,691$89,800$91 Very close on everything we compare
Eden, TX 76837 88%762$66,528$85,100$136 older residents
Kingsford Heights, IN 46346 87%256$57,830$120,500$144 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Afton, IA 50830 87%267$61,094$113,300$114 more homeowners
Horton, KS 66439 87%299$53,348$90,800$110 older residents
Oswego, KS 67356 87%299$52,882$91,200$75 Very close on everything we compare
Bovina, TX 79009 87%770$65,333$116,300$143 pricier homes ($28K more)
Ralls, TX 79357 87%723$57,993$76,400$78 Very close on everything we compare
Whitehall, NY 12887 86%924$56,709$123,400$97 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Worthington, WV 26591 86%525$61,071$124,000$98 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Union Point, GA 30669 86%528$65,852$103,300$71 larger
Pleasant City, OH 43772 86%460$47,344$120,300$96 pricier homes ($32K more)
Carterville, MO 64835 86%265$58,849$97,600$142 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral Springs, AR 71851 86%404$63,920$115,500$78 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Lepanto, AR 72354 86%223$48,472$73,300$79 older residents
Edwards, NY 13635 85%852$71,316$104,400— smaller · more homeowners
Ledbetter, KY 42058 85%149$66,852$118,700$128 pricier homes ($30K more) · more homeowners
Vandalia, MO 63382 85%83$60,733$96,300$89 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Parma, MO 63870 85%155$57,639$62,100— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Sarcoxie, MO 64862 85%252$59,489$125,900$128 pricier homes ($37K more) · 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.