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 Valmeyer, IL 62295

Valmeyer: median income $87,989, home value $203,400, $166/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belmont, OH 43718 93%513$92,576$228,000$146 larger
Shellsburg, IA 52332 93%275$92,708$198,000$155 Very close on everything we compare
Tanner, AL 35671 92%311$86,163$241,300$171 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Monroe, ME 04951 91%1,181$81,300$220,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Irasburg, VT 05845 91%1,033$82,262$233,200$197 pricier homes ($30K more)
Beech Bluff, TN 38313 91%207$85,625$213,900$158 larger · less walkable
Avilla, IN 46710 91%343$84,408$218,200$151 larger
Dresser, WI 54009 91%502$89,861$249,300$198 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Highlandville, MO 65669 91%186$86,932$243,800$162 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Stetson, ME 04488 90%1,183$76,023$205,700$138 Very close on everything we compare
Sheldon, VT 05483 90%1,004$78,505$246,500$211 pricier homes ($43K more)
Spout Spring, VA 24593 90%625$79,018$243,900$195 pricier homes ($41K more)
Reedsville, WV 26547 90%571$76,084$204,000$178 larger
Elmira, MI 49730 90%547$79,679$207,200$198 more homeowners
Arena, WI 53503 90%337$87,361$239,900$198 pricier homes ($37K more)
Warrens, WI 54666 90%406$78,015$220,500$150 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Itasca, TX 76055 90%572$80,025$197,300$152 larger
Abbottstown, PA 17301 89%722$84,712$250,900$171 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Millbury, OH 43447 89%429$89,643$218,600$167 larger · older homes
Freeburg, MO 65035 89%88$90,815$237,300$228 pricier homes ($34K more)
Levant, ME 04456 88%1,189$86,071$268,500$207 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Fenelton, PA 16034 88%590$88,300$214,300$236 older homes
Pittsville, MD 21850 88%807$79,665$234,500$223 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Pinebluff, NC 28373 88%639$81,538$224,400$199 larger
Baldwin, GA 30511 88%463$88,432$224,100$171 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.