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 Clayton, IL 62324

Clayton: median income $76,903, home value $96,600, $57/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dilliner, PA 15327 91%582$70,296$118,100— Very close on everything we compare
Weedville, PA 15868 91%658$70,395$112,200— younger residents
Villisca, IA 50864 89%221$69,861$109,900$67 Very close on everything we compare
Sparkman, AR 71763 89%434$73,438$86,800$55 newer homes
Sigel, PA 15860 88%630$65,774$148,800— pricier homes ($52K more)
Moro, AR 72368 88%360$66,719$110,300$69 Very close on everything we compare
Coalport, PA 16627 87%655$64,013$92,800— larger · 6 min longer commute
Alum Creek, WV 25003 87%504$64,631$114,900— larger
Wellsburg, IA 50680 87%197$75,956$140,900$61 pricier homes ($44K more)
Alex, OK 73002 87%510$69,808$105,600$66 younger residents
Perrysburg, NY 14129 86%643$68,542$158,100$57 pricier homes ($62K more)
Montezuma, IN 47862 86%191$65,625$108,800$86 Very close on everything we compare
Mclean, TX 79057 86%622$70,865$91,300— older homes
Avonmore, PA 15618 85%605$61,579$113,800$40 larger
Rankin, TX 79778 85%864$70,808$123,500— pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Mahaffey, PA 15757 84%645$56,176$105,600— Very close on everything we compare
Eldred, PA 16731 84%668$61,991$107,500$42 larger
Lynn, IN 47355 84%319$73,133$117,000$84 larger
Twin Valley, MN 56584 84%565$69,625$131,600$85 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Waverly, KS 66871 84%273$71,094$145,100— pricier homes ($49K more)
Andover, NY 14806 83%701$74,688$93,200$65 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hastings, PA 16646 83%646$66,359$119,200$70 larger · older homes
Snow Shoe, PA 16874 83%686$79,375$178,100— pricier homes ($82K more)
Noxapater, MS 39346 83%497$62,439$99,600— Very close on everything we compare
Baxter, KY 40806 83%467$59,837$99,700$39 newer homes

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.