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 Payson, IL 62360

Payson: median income $54,706, home value $147,500, $111/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rosebush, MI 48878 95%428$57,656$150,300$92 Very close on everything we compare
Island Falls, ME 04747 94%1,235$56,795$120,200$111 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Pittsfield, PA 16340 94%634$57,446$127,300$115 Very close on everything we compare
Thayer, KS 66776 94%279$57,304$136,100— Very close on everything we compare
Peck, MI 48466 93%497$59,241$151,000$148 Very close on everything we compare
Stephenson, MI 49887 93%429$58,375$156,600$146 larger
Coffee Springs, AL 36318 92%670$49,826$122,400$105 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Kaleva, MI 49645 92%413$56,300$145,200$122 Very close on everything we compare
Lachine, MI 49753 92%526$57,292$152,800$131 older residents
Brockport, PA 15823 91%666$51,125$146,100— Very close on everything we compare
Rivesville, WV 26588 91%591$60,990$173,300$109 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Rutherford, TN 38369 91%283$50,417$105,300$107 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Ossineke, MI 49766 91%531$61,346$161,800$100 larger
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456 90%616$58,828$128,700$119 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Wilcox, PA 15870 90%670$63,750$126,800— Very close on everything we compare
Transfer, PA 16154 90%578$57,870$167,000$106 larger
Corydon, KY 42406 90%239$62,470$187,200$132 pricier homes ($40K more)
Johannesburg, MI 49751 90%502$62,008$188,600$162 pricier homes ($41K more)
Laona, WI 54541 90%418$63,438$193,800$104 pricier homes ($46K more)
Lyons Falls, NY 13368 89%860$62,159$128,700$147 older homes
Hadley, PA 16130 89%590$58,750$153,900$121 more apartments and townhomes
North Benton, OH 44449 89%545$62,188$163,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Snover, MI 48472 89%499$61,000$159,400$94 younger residents
Reading, MI 49274 89%367$58,087$171,100$137 larger
Mound City, KS 66056 89%223$57,813$163,200$134 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.