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 Pittsfield, IL 62363

Pittsfield: median income $58,500, home value $118,000, $86/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brookfield, MO 64628 95%121$59,361$123,500$110 Very close on everything we compare
Wells, MN 56097 94%324$62,264$133,800$91 smaller
Ridgway, PA 15853 93%646$59,344$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Windber, PA 15963 93%636$61,566$135,700$92 larger
Rogers City, MI 49779 93%536$53,465$124,000$79 Very close on everything we compare
Johnstown, PA 15909 92%634$61,016$110,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Hampton, IA 50441 92%250$49,910$127,100$102 Very close on everything we compare
Chisholm, MN 55719 92%555$53,647$123,100$106 older homes
New Castle, PA 16102 91%557$56,053$104,900$84 younger residents
Iron River, MI 49935 91%462$57,236$111,500$139 Very close on everything we compare
Audubon, IA 50025 91%261$52,438$118,100$97 smaller
Pocahontas, IA 50574 91%295$60,469$110,300$83 smaller
Corning, IA 50841 91%228$66,875$116,700$95 smaller
Springfield, MN 56087 91%385$64,375$142,600$92 smaller · younger residents
Bad Axe, MI 48413 90%496$58,346$156,000$115 pricier homes ($38K more)
Manistique, MI 49854 90%499$55,944$125,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Bessemer, MI 49911 90%477$57,000$106,300$87 smaller · older homes
Corydon, IA 50060 90%156$63,438$117,300$106 smaller
Britt, IA 50423 90%287$73,151$118,900$89 smaller
Eureka, KS 67045 90%320$62,629$110,100$80 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Phillipsburg, KS 67661 90%453$60,925$98,400$72 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Perry, OK 73077 90%421$62,763$132,700$111 younger residents
Ballinger, TX 76821 90%746$63,380$112,900$94 younger residents
Smethport, PA 16749 89%663$72,250$120,100$84 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson, IA 50129 89%250$60,671$166,100$117 pricier homes ($48K more)

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.