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 Virden, IL 62690

Virden: median income $84,196, home value $118,300, $101/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Attica, IN 47918 90%146$70,317$157,300$103 pricier homes ($39K more)
Tama, IA 52339 90%224$67,612$121,400$96 Very close on everything we compare
Eldora, IA 50627 89%263$74,536$131,600$70 Very close on everything we compare
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 89%547$74,583$154,100$104 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Cordell, OK 73632 89%582$72,571$114,600$74 Very close on everything we compare
Manly, IA 50456 88%316$81,339$124,700$119 smaller · less walkable
Marengo, IA 52301 88%198$70,150$160,300$109 pricier homes ($42K more)
Tahoka, TX 79373 88%798$74,728$137,100$116 Very close on everything we compare
Burnham, PA 17009 87%650$73,088$145,700$99 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Saint James, MN 56081 87%398$67,337$163,800$106 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Marceline, MO 64658 87%169$75,848$144,700$98 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Burrton, KS 67020 87%437$80,680$130,200$77 smaller
Sonora, TX 76950 87%870$78,844$157,000$104 pricier homes ($39K more)
Carey, OH 43316 86%352$78,828$167,300$110 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · less walkable
Mount Ayr, IA 50854 86%250$81,250$161,800$78 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Onawa, IA 51040 86%374$71,179$151,600$150 pricier homes ($33K more)
Tracy, MN 56175 86%444$73,750$154,400$107 pricier homes ($36K more) · more homeowners
Garnett, KS 66032 86%307$69,647$175,600$133 pricier homes ($57K more)
Taft, TX 78390 86%908$78,367$135,700$130 larger · 6 min longer commute
Plymouth, OH 44865 85%389$76,875$147,200$153 pricier homes ($29K more) · less walkable
Sandusky, MI 48471 85%449$62,844$142,700$110 Very close on everything we compare
Leon, IA 50144 85%226$63,333$130,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Port Edwards, WI 54469 85%335$74,038$153,400$108 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Springfield, SD 57062 85%483$62,321$134,900$110 smaller
Schuyler, NE 68661 85%406$83,279$155,200$95 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 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.