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 Fowler, IL 62338

Fowler: median income $91,473, home value $226,800, $112/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waldron, IN 46182 92%299$89,567$254,300$146 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Fabius, NY 13063 91%814$84,063$230,200$161 larger
Darien Center, NY 14040 91%695$88,779$210,100$141 larger
Nova, OH 44859 91%473$88,750$209,100$144 larger
Sherrill, IA 52073 91%183$95,526$297,400$128 pricier homes ($71K more)
Hope, MI 48628 90%442$93,854$215,600$135 larger
Vulcan, MI 49892 90%435$74,926$198,900$116 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Eland, WI 54427 90%349$83,958$189,800$134 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Rosendale, WI 54974 90%294$97,222$263,600$172 pricier homes ($37K more)
Altura, MN 55910 90%289$76,389$259,100$134 pricier homes ($32K more)
Dalton, MN 56324 90%488$82,917$252,600$160 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hookstown, PA 15050 89%571$91,406$209,800$134 larger
Tornado, WV 25202 89%516$96,328$198,600$122 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Stilesville, IN 46180 89%247$90,208$228,600$168 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, PA 18831 88%778$82,132$216,900$122 Very close on everything we compare
Junction City, WI 54443 88%327$99,423$279,400$135 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · younger residents
Nashua, MT 59248 88%935$89,821$216,000— older homes
Oak Ridge, MO 63769 88%188$91,146$195,800$146 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 88%106$78,750$269,400— pricier homes ($43K more) · more renters
Easton, KS 66020 88%210$78,594$320,100— pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Scenery Hill, PA 15360 87%591$85,341$246,300$140 larger · older homes
Hatley, WI 54440 87%347$90,921$222,700$148 larger
Britt, MN 55710 87%534$86,477$280,400$170 pricier homes ($54K more)
Rollingstone, MN 55969 87%285$94,444$291,800$157 pricier homes ($65K more) · younger residents
Meta, MO 65058 87%130$71,771$242,900$83 Very close on everything we compare

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.