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 Christopher, IL 62822

Christopher: median income $47,770, home value $67,600, $52/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bolivar, NY 14715 89%642$55,640$80,500$66 Very close on everything we compare
Sedan, KS 67361 88%394$53,917$64,400— newer homes
Spur, TX 79370 88%731$48,750$63,100$51 smaller · newer homes
Appalachia, VA 24216 87%351$37,795$53,800$61 Very close on everything we compare
Grant City, MO 64456 87%334$48,611$92,000— smaller
Benwood, WV 26031 85%468$46,797$78,300$83 Very close on everything we compare
Belle, WV 25015 84%411$56,681$98,100$63 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Oelwein, IA 50662 84%358$48,646$107,700$68 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Brunswick, MO 65236 84%241$46,806$98,800$62 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Shamrock, TX 79079 84%649$51,250$92,500$68 newer homes
Rotan, TX 79546 84%733$58,984$65,000$40 smaller
Birmingham, AL 35224 83%331$42,639$80,000$76 larger
Marks, MS 38646 83%266$38,618$88,300— newer homes
Peabody, KS 66866 83%438$58,705$97,200$46 pricier homes ($30K more)
Blackwell, OK 74631 83%459$53,964$86,500$62 larger · younger residents
Fairfax, OK 74637 83%431$52,829$67,500$66 smaller · older residents
Monessen, PA 15062 82%514$52,889$95,900$65 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Johnstown, PA 15906 82%566$43,284$57,100$45 larger
Nanty Glo, PA 15943 82%573$56,200$89,500$74 larger · 5 min longer commute
South Fork, PA 15956 82%574$52,448$87,700$62 more homeowners · older homes
Mingo Junction, OH 43938 82%480$55,446$101,300$70 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 82%424$57,361$85,900— smaller
Yates Center, KS 66783 82%364$48,068$91,400$60 5 min shorter commute
Waurika, OK 73573 82%564$49,318$78,500$66 newer homes
Belmont, NY 14813 81%653$63,750$94,300$71 pricier homes ($27K 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.