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 Girard, IL 62640

Girard: median income $66,116, home value $171,800, $85/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paris, MO 65275 95%116$60,893$151,100$90 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, PA 16947 93%705$59,872$176,200$84 Very close on everything we compare
Maysville, OK 73057 93%523$61,044$154,900$114 smaller
Forest City, PA 18421 92%771$68,256$171,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Monroeville, IN 46773 92%284$72,813$172,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Marion Center, PA 15759 91%580$57,132$168,600$119 Very close on everything we compare
New Florence, PA 15944 91%574$69,076$155,000$87 more homeowners
Stoneboro, PA 16153 91%531$63,750$149,300— smaller
Rivesville, WV 26588 91%518$60,990$173,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Lore City, OH 43755 91%449$68,581$166,700$89 smaller
Nashua, IA 50658 91%283$71,936$155,100$68 younger residents
Edgemont, SD 57735 91%772$71,576$165,600— smaller
Albany, IN 47320 90%252$69,764$137,500$120 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Middletown, IN 47356 90%234$67,049$167,800$124 larger
Fairview, OK 73737 90%523$63,136$157,400$67 younger residents
Kearny, AZ 85137 90%1,249$57,946$134,000$112 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Acme, PA 15610 89%557$72,938$197,100$102 pricier homes ($25K more) · more homeowners
Lilly, PA 15938 89%599$71,250$153,100$97 more homeowners
Trout Run, PA 17771 89%689$71,016$198,000$117 pricier homes ($26K more)
Weatherly, PA 18255 89%747$69,034$189,600$125 Very close on everything we compare
Mulga, AL 35118 89%433$64,375$164,800$76 younger residents
New Paris, OH 45347 89%272$63,025$136,700$106 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Winamac, IN 46996 89%205$64,167$154,900$122 larger
Oakland City, IN 47660 89%153$57,472$146,300$107 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Morocco, IN 47963 89%169$75,000$204,200$84 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents

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.