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.

Reset

Towns most like Smithton, IL 62285

Smithton: median income $136,345, home value $274,400, $136/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenville, IN 47124 87%216$121,188$315,800$173 pricier homes ($41K more) · younger residents
New Freedom, PA 17349 86%719$120,618$368,900$185 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · older homes
Duanesburg, NY 12056 85%885$132,150$374,500$193 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller
Harrison City, PA 15636 84%567$145,492$368,500$210 pricier homes ($94K more)
Lone Jack, MO 64070 84%227$130,364$370,400$207 pricier homes ($96K more)
Milford, MI 48380 83%440$131,979$447,000$202 pricier homes ($173K more) · larger
Leonard, MI 48367 81%471$110,405$397,900$192 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($124K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73165 81%460$125,434$325,600$162 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · younger residents
Greenwood, MO 64034 80%234$120,041$350,900$194 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · younger residents
Hebron, CT 06248 79%955$134,435$376,200$239 pricier homes ($102K more) · older homes
Carson, VA 23830 79%692$118,030$330,800$196 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Eads, TN 38028 79%226$151,389$463,600$210 pricier homes ($189K more) · larger
Radnor, OH 43066 79%388$129,012$389,400$128 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · older homes
New Palestine, IN 46163 79%237$113,106$347,800$176 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · younger residents
Elysburg, PA 17824 78%733$118,176$244,900$173 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Morgantown, PA 19543 78%762$112,750$361,000$194 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · younger residents
Yalaha, FL 34797 78%816$130,227$400,000$204 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller
Wetumpka, AL 36093 78%460$120,693$307,000$152 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Valley City, OH 44280 78%470$130,167$386,000$204 pricier homes ($112K more) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Sherwood, WI 54169 78%407$109,524$351,200$208 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($77K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Auburn, PA 17922 77%753$99,260$257,100$163 lower income ($37K less) · older homes
Clermont, GA 30527 77%439$103,281$356,000$185 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($82K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Chelsea, AL 35043 77%400$121,356$366,200$175 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint John, IN 46373 77%248$127,146$408,900$187 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger
Davisburg, MI 48350 77%451$110,042$371,900$168 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($98K 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.