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 Quincy, IL 62301

Quincy: median income $52,055, home value $135,100, $111/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 94%574$54,159$143,400$117 smaller
Great Bend, KS 67530 93%410$58,780$137,600$99 smaller
Waterloo, IA 50702 91%183$62,021$150,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, NY 14701 90%649$49,685$105,300$104 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Altoona, PA 16602 90%686$55,046$125,700$93 older residents
Clarksburg, WV 26301 90%589$49,816$133,300$107 7 min longer commute
Evansville, IN 47714 90%248$55,910$133,400$109 8 min longer commute
Jackson, MI 49203 90%396$56,201$159,100$133 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74127 90%363$46,373$134,200$126 smaller
Steubenville, OH 43952 89%568$47,624$124,300$131 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Richmond, IN 47374 89%344$50,766$130,700$124 6 min longer commute
Dubuque, IA 52001 89%182$61,643$178,000$136 pricier homes ($43K more)
Abilene, TX 79605 89%698$62,929$163,600$143 pricier homes ($29K more)
Danville, VA 24541 88%687$51,427$145,100$115 7 min longer commute
Parkersburg, WV 26101 88%526$48,710$117,500$105 6 min longer commute
Vincennes, IN 47591 88%224$61,803$157,400$106 newer homes
Abilene, TX 79603 88%695$53,513$120,900$134 Very close on everything we compare
Johnson City, NY 13790 87%816$59,045$127,200$122 smaller
Meadville, PA 16335 87%599$57,591$161,600$133 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Altoona, PA 16601 87%685$58,070$147,200$88 7 min longer commute
Williamsport, PA 17701 87%759$53,237$183,900$127 pricier homes ($49K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Evansville, IN 47710 87%244$47,292$147,300$125 smaller
Lake Charles, LA 70601 87%678$49,992$162,200$98 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18505 86%828$52,398$156,700$121 7 min longer commute
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 86%823$56,378$131,900$109 8 min longer commute

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.