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 Chester, IL 62233

Chester: median income $84,556, home value $120,500, $91/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Willard, OH 44890 89%436$68,587$145,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Cordell, OK 73632 89%538$72,571$114,600$74 smaller
Butler, IN 46721 88%358$68,580$138,800$124 smaller
Marengo, IA 52301 88%293$70,150$160,300$109 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Stryker, OH 43557 87%379$84,950$158,900$104 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Fairmount, IN 46928 87%281$67,412$126,300$104 smaller
Portland, IN 47371 87%311$64,000$123,000$111 Very close on everything we compare
Tracy, MN 56175 87%530$73,750$154,400$107 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Carey, OH 43316 86%402$78,828$167,300$110 pricier homes ($47K more)
Cambridge City, IN 47327 86%283$68,088$124,700$84 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Attica, IN 47918 86%215$70,317$157,300$103 pricier homes ($37K more)
Cresco, IA 52136 86%395$70,778$161,100$113 pricier homes ($41K more)
New London, IA 52645 86%224$79,327$159,700$113 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Lakefield, MN 56150 86%485$76,844$146,100$98 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Lyndonville, NY 14098 85%706$91,042$136,700$93 smaller
Remington, IN 47977 85%243$80,000$167,100$87 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Williamsport, IN 47993 85%210$72,455$158,400$127 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Maquoketa, IA 52060 85%291$68,143$158,300$110 pricier homes ($38K more)
Ballinger, TX 76821 85%715$63,380$112,900$94 smaller
Randolph, NY 14772 84%644$79,583$115,900$95 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Homer City, PA 15748 84%602$70,474$153,600$125 pricier homes ($33K more)
Mc Donald, OH 44437 84%533$76,842$137,000$112 smaller
New Paris, OH 45347 84%303$63,025$136,700$106 smaller
Montpelier, IN 47359 84%305$71,607$121,900$112 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Carson City, MI 48811 84%446$70,625$170,800$136 pricier homes ($50K more)

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.