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 Mount Sterling, IL 62353

Mount Sterling: median income $66,000, home value $152,100, $128/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Evansdale, IA 50707 96%190$63,441$153,700$128 larger
Princeton, IN 47670 94%204$64,907$158,500$135 larger
Cozad, NE 69130 94%490$63,388$154,300$126 older residents
Baraga, MI 49908 93%484$63,281$130,300$126 smaller
Wadena, MN 56482 93%498$64,439$169,800$133 larger
Grafton, ND 58237 92%669$70,201$155,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Cut Bank, MT 59427 92%1,220$61,094$174,300$115 Very close on everything we compare
Burlington, KS 66839 92%293$63,077$175,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Valentine, NE 69201 92%548$62,101$161,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Brockway, PA 15824 91%631$64,623$155,600$144 more homeowners
Emmetsburg, IA 50536 91%297$59,261$122,000$112 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Sheldon, IA 51201 91%344$68,799$197,800$118 pricier homes ($46K more)
Clarinda, IA 51632 91%232$55,055$143,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Abbotsford, WI 54405 91%345$69,659$177,900$112 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Warren, MN 56762 91%645$62,933$160,100$102 smaller
Winner, SD 57580 91%522$59,547$133,900$94 Very close on everything we compare
Broken Bow, NE 68822 91%476$67,500$154,600— Very close on everything we compare
Houlton, ME 04730 90%1,225$61,980$145,200$128 larger
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 90%81$64,512$171,400$112 larger
Boscobel, WI 53805 90%218$60,870$164,100$131 7 min longer commute
Colby, WI 54421 90%341$60,820$194,500$114 pricier homes ($42K more)
Granite Falls, MN 56241 90%414$66,875$155,600$113 more homeowners
Montevideo, MN 56265 90%426$74,848$162,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Olivia, MN 56277 90%395$70,326$184,500$133 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Milan, MO 63556 90%127$58,851$124,100$107 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller

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.