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 Mason City, IL 62664

Mason City: median income $70,509, home value $101,200, $95/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mckeesport, PA 15133 94%518$65,938$97,500$100 larger
Rimersburg, PA 16248 93%538$65,272$110,600$100 Very close on everything we compare
Patton, PA 16668 93%582$58,750$114,700$85 Very close on everything we compare
Gallitzin, PA 16641 92%587$65,417$116,500$100 6 min shorter commute
Adena, OH 43901 92%465$63,603$107,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Greene, IA 50636 91%246$70,066$154,700$86 pricier homes ($54K more)
Cambridge City, IN 47327 90%241$68,088$124,700$84 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585 90%338$71,346$120,600$84 smaller
Chappell, NE 69129 90%671$67,105$107,000— smaller · older residents
Summerville, PA 15864 89%555$65,859$141,400$109 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Royal Center, IN 46978 89%174$78,750$130,000$119 pricier homes ($29K more)
Lynn, IN 47355 89%252$73,133$117,000$84 Very close on everything we compare
Cisco, TX 76437 89%747$60,923$117,500$79 larger
Akron, MI 48701 88%393$62,969$112,200$108 smaller
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 88%196$72,857$150,700$95 pricier homes ($50K more)
Hollsopple, PA 15935 87%567$61,941$99,600$121 older homes
Osceola Mills, PA 16666 87%601$63,262$118,600$110 Very close on everything we compare
Fairmount, IN 46928 87%213$67,412$126,300$104 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Ackley, IA 50601 87%238$66,250$127,200$86 pricier homes ($26K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Hoyt Lakes, MN 55750 87%520$65,833$93,300$98 more homeowners
Bayard, NE 69334 87%717$62,232$126,100$133 5 min shorter commute
Clarksville, PA 15322 86%510$87,635$111,500$100 smaller
Houtzdale, PA 16651 86%597$66,357$111,100$76 larger
Paden City, WV 26159 86%467$66,190$104,100$93 8 min shorter commute
Hagerstown, IN 47346 86%241$70,000$144,300$114 pricier homes ($43K more) · 6 min shorter commute

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.