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.

Reset

Towns most like Oreana, IL 62554

Oreana: median income $95,625, home value $152,600, $122/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amboy, IN 46911 94%160$95,122$209,300$135 pricier homes ($57K more)
Swayzee, IN 46986 94%165$79,438$162,600$112 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, IA 52623 93%144$90,714$194,000$111 pricier homes ($41K more)
Eland, WI 54427 93%339$83,958$189,800$134 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Lucas, OH 44843 92%344$90,366$208,700$127 pricier homes ($56K more)
New Riegel, OH 44853 92%301$90,281$156,100— older homes
Fairbank, IA 50629 92%248$103,106$207,100$126 pricier homes ($55K more)
Shell Rock, IA 50670 92%272$84,679$171,500$134 younger residents
Milladore, WI 54454 92%327$82,589$170,200$129 smaller
Bird Island, MN 55310 92%453$87,292$160,500$113 older residents
Hershey, NE 69143 92%645$90,625$197,900$105 pricier homes ($45K more)
Indiahoma, OK 73552 92%655$85,500$152,900— Very close on everything we compare
Russell, PA 16345 91%526$95,192$186,400$137 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Mulberry, IN 46058 91%119$77,719$159,700$138 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 91%319$93,482$204,100$112 pricier homes ($52K more)
New Hartford, IA 50660 91%268$95,969$190,900$98 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Merrill, IA 51038 91%428$95,893$183,100$132 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Frankfort, KS 66427 91%407$79,481$133,600— Very close on everything we compare
Fort Jennings, OH 45844 90%253$88,792$231,300$123 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
New London, IA 52645 90%150$79,327$159,700$113 larger
Darien Center, NY 14040 89%579$88,779$210,100$141 pricier homes ($58K more) · 6 min longer commute
Forestville, NY 14062 89%533$83,125$147,100$150 larger
Rushsylvania, OH 43347 89%277$93,893$157,600$122 smaller · 6 min longer commute
West Mansfield, OH 43358 89%283$89,121$218,600$133 pricier homes ($66K more) · 6 min longer commute
Sterling, OH 44276 89%376$86,583$231,300$152 pricier homes ($79K 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.