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 Dawson, IL 62520

Dawson: median income $84,500, home value $226,400, $101/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Julian, PA 16844 98%611$85,147$228,300$113 larger
Cloverdale, OH 45827 95%284$85,400$203,300$88 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, PA 18831 94%689$82,132$216,900$122 smaller
Springville, PA 18844 94%720$92,750$246,300— Very close on everything we compare
Ettrick, WI 54627 94%312$77,212$223,800$93 Very close on everything we compare
Genoa, WI 54632 94%271$82,500$236,100— Very close on everything we compare
Orangeville, PA 17859 93%692$75,515$224,800$118 larger
Converse, IN 46919 93%196$83,664$193,300$153 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Bryant, WI 54418 93%370$80,000$195,100— cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Dunkerton, IA 50626 92%235$84,306$209,400$91 younger residents
Arpin, WI 54410 92%325$84,135$213,200— larger · younger residents
Hixton, WI 54635 92%324$72,566$209,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Burneyville, OK 73430 92%596$79,091$165,300$107 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Silver Lake, IN 46982 91%206$79,688$190,400$137 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
West Point, IA 52656 91%120$83,750$189,900$110 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Eland, WI 54427 91%344$83,958$189,800$134 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Altura, MN 55910 91%323$76,389$259,100$134 pricier homes ($33K more)
Arlington, SD 57212 91%499$93,750$238,100— Very close on everything we compare
Oak Ridge, MO 63769 91%162$91,146$195,800$146 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Indiahoma, OK 73552 91%625$85,500$152,900— cheaper homes ($74K less)
Earlton, NY 12058 90%827$85,469$273,500— pricier homes ($47K more)
Acme, PA 15610 90%532$72,938$197,100$102 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Petersburg, PA 16669 90%606$78,977$215,500$113 6 min longer commute
Dornsife, PA 17823 90%671$78,864$232,100— older homes
New Hartford, IA 50660 90%250$95,969$190,900$98 cheaper homes ($36K less)

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.