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 Dix, IL 62830

Dix: median income $62,400, home value $137,500, $111/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lisle, NY 13797 95%731$67,316$116,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Intyre, GA 31054 93%503$53,929$111,500— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Holcomb, MS 38940 93%329$64,048$109,600— cheaper homes ($28K less)
Fountain Run, KY 42133 93%203$62,353$163,900$101 pricier homes ($26K more)
Harrisonburg, LA 71340 93%487$65,121$108,200— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Vernon Center, NY 13477 92%771$71,111$137,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Gleason, TN 38229 92%155$58,715$146,600$125 larger
Addison, AL 35540 91%308$65,192$119,500$153 larger
Shoshoni, WY 82649 91%1,051$69,375$155,100$167 Very close on everything we compare
East Springfield, PA 16411 90%512$66,779$151,700$96 more single-family homes
Turbeville, SC 29162 90%589$61,979$111,800$125 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Cusseta, GA 31805 90%485$56,544$103,300$100 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
Crown City, OH 45623 90%362$57,118$125,700$143 larger
Orleans, MI 48865 90%379$70,039$141,900$161 Very close on everything we compare
Goodman, MO 64843 90%320$55,492$152,700$143 larger
Huntsville, MO 65259 90%205$60,865$141,600$92 larger
Patrick Springs, VA 24133 89%498$61,964$117,400$142 larger · older residents
Mayesville, SC 29104 89%577$67,096$157,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Early Branch, SC 29916 89%598$70,982$123,800$130 5 min longer commute
Alapaha, GA 31622 89%585$51,522$104,500— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Raiford, FL 32083 89%695$55,313$115,000$118 larger · more renters
Reeds, MO 64859 89%298$61,429$122,900$142 more single-family homes
Sherburne, NY 13460 88%765$61,587$149,000$107 larger
La Fargeville, NY 13656 88%783$72,500$154,600$133 larger
Jefferson, SC 29718 88%544$59,464$127,500$156 larger

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.