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 Decatur, IL 62526

Decatur: median income $49,062, home value $95,100, $83/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arkansas City, KS 67005 92%478$54,516$95,400$87 smaller
Parkersburg, WV 26101 91%396$48,710$117,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Okmulgee, OK 74447 91%482$48,432$113,600$109 smaller
Natchez, MS 39120 90%590$43,632$107,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, KY 41101 90%350$53,889$121,600$101 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Camden, AR 71701 90%484$49,110$113,700$94 smaller
Sweetwater, TX 79556 90%817$49,393$94,900$111 smaller
Bluefield, WV 24701 89%453$50,455$105,000$86 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Pine Bluff, AR 71603 89%427$53,130$121,600$75 pricier homes ($27K more) · 6 min longer commute
Blytheville, AR 72315 89%277$52,259$134,600$89 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Vernon, TX 76384 89%694$53,564$89,700$84 smaller
New Castle, PA 16101 88%459$51,128$110,600$110 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36605 88%639$43,538$99,200$99 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, MS 38701 88%463$40,854$127,300$92 pricier homes ($32K more)
Greenville, MS 38703 88%460$44,291$85,700$64 smaller
Niles, OH 44446 88%439$50,468$114,400$127 smaller
Crossett, AR 71635 88%493$47,148$98,100$76 smaller
Martinsville, VA 24112 87%538$48,770$130,100$104 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min longer commute
Danville, VA 24541 87%563$51,427$145,100$115 pricier homes ($50K more)
Clarksburg, WV 26301 87%459$49,816$133,300$107 pricier homes ($38K more) · older homes
Marion, IN 46953 87%179$46,288$89,200$72 younger residents
Muncie, IN 47302 87%189$47,837$76,800$93 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, IN 47374 87%215$50,766$130,700$124 pricier homes ($36K more)
Waterloo, IA 50703 87%254$50,060$95,900$84 smaller · older homes
El Dorado, AR 71730 87%504$55,770$130,300$100 pricier homes ($35K 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.