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 Kincaid, IL 62540

Kincaid: median income $70,179, home value $89,400, $106/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Allison, IA 50602 91%281$67,188$118,100$108 pricier homes ($29K more)
Mclean, TX 79057 91%683$70,865$91,300— Very close on everything we compare
Rimersburg, PA 16248 89%532$65,272$110,600$100 larger
Laddonia, MO 63352 89%121$54,485$98,000$115 Very close on everything we compare
Braymer, MO 64624 88%233$58,095$95,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Alum Creek, WV 25003 87%419$64,631$114,900— pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · newer homes
Mapleton, IA 51034 87%377$66,375$120,500$104 pricier homes ($31K more)
Saint Regis Falls, NY 12980 86%839$60,938$106,500$110 newer homes
Wakefield, MI 49968 86%477$55,759$91,800$97 larger
Twin Valley, MN 56584 86%630$69,625$131,600$85 pricier homes ($42K more)
Tarkio, MO 64491 86%321$57,500$91,300$126 Very close on everything we compare
Barton, MD 21521 85%553$64,194$107,500$119 more homeowners
Scarbro, WV 25917 85%459$60,407$88,700$113 9 min shorter commute
Lynn, IN 47355 85%240$73,133$117,000$84 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Unionville, MI 48767 85%416$77,938$123,100— pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Villisca, IA 50864 85%308$69,861$109,900$67 Very close on everything we compare
Belle Plaine, IA 52208 85%218$74,127$120,700$91 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Fairfax, MN 55332 85%437$62,361$144,300$92 pricier homes ($55K more)
Appleton, MN 56208 85%513$59,766$102,800$114 larger
Fairfax, MO 64446 85%320$56,949$101,800— younger residents
Chappell, NE 69129 85%694$67,105$107,000— Very close on everything we compare
Sedalia, KY 42079 84%213$59,375$119,100$122 pricier homes ($30K more)
Adena, OH 43901 84%454$63,603$107,600$114 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Montezuma, IN 47862 84%110$65,625$108,800$86 more apartments and townhomes
Morning Sun, IA 52640 84%143$67,813$125,800$155 pricier homes ($36K 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.