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 Glenarm, IL 62536

Glenarm: median income $95,809, home value $260,000, $112/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sciota, PA 18354 89%760$85,588$252,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Warne, NC 28909 89%450$80,875$285,400$153 pricier homes ($25K more)
Inwood, IA 51240 89%433$83,929$232,600$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Aurora, UT 84620 89%1,189$88,810$299,700$130 pricier homes ($40K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Cutler, IN 46920 87%180$100,074$280,500— less walkable
Pleasanton, NE 68866 87%507$94,792$262,300— Very close on everything we compare
Orangeville, UT 84537 87%1,139$90,086$246,200$136 Very close on everything we compare
Walker, IA 52352 86%214$92,321$231,300$131 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Dakota, MN 55925 86%309$92,500$282,200— less walkable
Courtland, MN 56021 86%401$96,563$276,800$140 less walkable
Sabin, MN 56580 86%604$107,813$282,200$165 Very close on everything we compare
Maria Stein, OH 45860 85%278$111,269$296,000— pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older homes
Alton, IA 51003 85%403$101,250$232,700$119 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Casco, WI 54205 85%358$90,781$252,900$140 larger · older residents
Freeport, MN 56331 85%489$96,042$271,800$169 larger · 5 min longer commute
Humboldt, SD 57035 85%471$99,565$326,500— pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Battle Creek, NE 68715 85%446$95,714$238,800$123 larger · more renters
Bartonsville, PA 18321 84%762$100,481$242,100$153 larger
Belle Haven, VA 23306 84%757$108,438$280,600$103 larger · more renters
Russia, OH 45363 84%281$95,268$316,900— pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · less walkable
Fruitland, IA 52749 84%141$103,424$217,700$136 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Worthing, SD 57077 84%447$88,125$234,500$175 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Galva, KS 67443 84%432$88,938$220,600$137 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Juniata, NE 68955 84%472$90,850$266,400$151 larger
Fort Loramie, OH 45845 83%284$95,078$306,300— pricier homes ($46K more) · larger

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.