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 Waverly, IL 62692

Waverly: median income $66,143, home value $123,100, $85/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ackley, IA 50601 97%261$66,250$127,200$86 Very close on everything we compare
Kewanna, IN 46939 96%211$69,000$140,700— Very close on everything we compare
Fairfax, MN 55332 96%420$62,361$144,300$92 Very close on everything we compare
Gibbon, MN 55335 96%417$62,206$149,300$98 pricier homes ($26K more)
Carrolltown, PA 15722 95%598$68,068$124,300$84 Very close on everything we compare
Unionville, MI 48767 95%436$77,938$123,100— Very close on everything we compare
Mapleton, IA 51034 94%353$66,375$120,500$104 Very close on everything we compare
Belle Plaine, IA 52208 93%200$74,127$120,700$91 Very close on everything we compare
Beach, ND 58621 93%868$67,000$124,800$69 smaller
Heuvelton, NY 13654 92%820$74,125$121,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Savage, MD 21545 92%589$60,264$130,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Wakefield, MI 49968 92%476$55,759$91,800$97 cheaper homes ($31K less)
George, IA 51237 92%406$61,667$159,500$89 pricier homes ($36K more)
Hay Springs, NE 69347 92%695$76,133$116,300— smaller
Holgate, OH 43527 91%326$58,821$136,300$120 Very close on everything we compare
Fairmount, IN 46928 91%233$67,412$126,300$104 larger
Walton, IN 46994 91%208$56,563$136,200$102 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge City, IN 47327 91%254$68,088$124,700$84 larger
Bay Port, MI 48720 91%449$60,250$139,100— smaller
Fairgrove, MI 48733 91%426$60,500$109,700$72 younger residents
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585 91%354$71,346$120,600$84 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Allison, IA 50602 91%264$67,188$118,100$108 smaller
Garwin, IA 50632 91%225$71,667$132,700$123 smaller
Greene, IA 50636 91%273$70,066$154,700$86 pricier homes ($32K more)
Villisca, IA 50864 91%281$69,861$109,900$67 Very close on everything we compare

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.