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 Macon, IL 62544

Macon: median income $89,167, home value $146,500, $111/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Hope, KS 67108 94%484$87,679$160,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Munger, MI 48747 92%377$81,458$141,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Claysville, PA 15323 90%455$78,947$194,400$122 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Fredericktown, PA 15333 90%477$89,333$185,600$112 pricier homes ($39K more)
Coggon, IA 52218 90%222$82,344$180,700$121 pricier homes ($34K more)
Royal Center, IN 46978 89%153$78,750$130,000$119 older homes
Coal City, IN 47427 89%109$74,920$122,600$141 smaller
Francesville, IN 47946 89%142$79,457$162,500$120 Very close on everything we compare
Amsterdam, OH 43903 88%428$73,281$135,500$99 Very close on everything we compare
Roachdale, IN 46172 88%117$85,912$177,100$106 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Dexter, IA 50070 88%301$92,083$213,300$174 pricier homes ($67K more)
State Center, IA 50247 88%270$91,875$181,300$139 pricier homes ($35K more)
Wayland, IA 52654 88%172$84,783$149,700$102 8 min shorter commute
Hookstown, PA 15050 87%455$91,406$209,800$134 pricier homes ($63K more) · 6 min shorter commute
West Alexander, PA 15376 87%451$86,607$218,900$121 pricier homes ($72K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Saltsburg, PA 15681 87%510$73,130$155,600$110 larger
Venus, PA 16364 87%511$74,886$183,500— pricier homes ($37K more)
Petersburg, PA 16669 87%583$78,977$215,500$113 pricier homes ($69K more) · newer homes
West College Corner, IN 47003 87%222$80,179$155,100$121 6 min shorter commute
Bloomingdale, IN 47832 87%92$78,125$146,400$134 smaller
New Richland, MN 56072 87%371$80,417$205,400$142 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Herndon, PA 17830 86%646$73,942$194,600$110 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Clarksville, MO 63336 86%107$71,875$162,500$107 smaller
Yorktown, TX 78164 86%885$67,578$171,300$101 larger
Springwater, NY 14560 85%627$75,257$178,200$87 pricier homes ($32K 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.