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 Ursa, IL 62376

Ursa: median income $57,778, home value $178,000, $150/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fredonia, PA 16124 95%587$55,455$171,500— Very close on everything we compare
Tekonsha, MI 49092 95%360$64,211$156,400$126 Very close on everything we compare
Roann, IN 46974 94%292$61,528$179,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Oxford, IN 47971 94%219$64,375$152,600$149 cheaper homes ($25K less)
North Adams, MI 49262 93%380$54,423$144,900$139 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Eddyville, IA 52553 92%99$64,583$150,000— cheaper homes ($28K less)
Malinta, OH 43535 91%393$67,083$172,100$141 5 min longer commute
Waynesfield, OH 45896 91%392$62,449$173,000$145 younger residents
Arlington, IN 46104 91%308$61,146$217,600$134 pricier homes ($40K more)
Selma, IN 47383 91%322$61,250$135,400$163 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Bay Port, MI 48720 91%487$60,250$139,100— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Aplington, IA 50604 91%190$66,776$168,200$133 Very close on everything we compare
Elroy, WI 53929 91%260$65,568$187,000$130 larger
Vesper, WI 54489 91%311$63,352$175,000$165 newer homes
Hector, MN 55342 91%364$64,861$169,300$153 larger
Harmony, MN 55939 91%243$70,855$198,800$120 larger
Sherburn, MN 56171 91%302$72,554$169,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Ponca, NE 68770 91%326$71,607$199,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Hill, NE 68930 91%373$65,875$184,000$135 Very close on everything we compare
Croghan, NY 13327 90%862$66,875$181,300$144 larger
Stoystown, PA 15563 90%655$62,411$139,600$128 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
West Springfield, PA 16443 90%583$70,344$163,400$189 Very close on everything we compare
Berlin Heights, OH 44814 90%474$68,702$193,600$143 larger
Michigantown, IN 46057 90%264$53,173$187,600$137 more renters
Orland, IN 46776 90%344$54,801$208,700$151 pricier homes ($31K more) · 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.