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 Ina, IL 62846

Ina: median income $65,500, home value $103,300, $142/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dawson, AL 35963 92%310$59,926$82,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonburg, LA 71340 92%470$65,121$108,200— 5 min longer commute
Sumner, GA 31789 88%544$55,720$96,300$124 6 min longer commute
Kiowa, OK 74553 88%457$59,063$124,100$146 Very close on everything we compare
Vernon Center, NY 13477 87%777$71,111$137,500$121 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min longer commute
Baraga, MI 49908 87%598$63,281$130,300$126 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Karnes City, TX 78118 87%824$60,711$103,700— larger
Texico, NM 88135 87%830$70,417$145,000— pricier homes ($42K more)
Hallsboro, NC 28442 86%631$60,964$98,900$180 6 min longer commute
Valliant, OK 74764 86%448$58,350$136,100$131 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Clarendon, TX 79226 86%701$58,031$102,700$133 larger
Van Horn, TX 79855 86%1,029$58,910$79,300— Very close on everything we compare
Pineville, WV 24874 85%403$54,596$96,600— older residents · older homes
Duenweg, MO 64841 85%311$59,167$124,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Taholah, WA 98587 85%1,886$51,458$112,300— smaller
Luthersburg, PA 15848 84%576$66,250$138,100— pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Gore Springs, MS 38929 84%308$68,202$104,400$204 7 min longer commute
Lily, KY 40740 84%277$63,701$111,100$140 larger
Nortonville, KY 42442 84%103$58,190$124,500$162 larger
West Unity, OH 43570 84%334$68,500$129,600$137 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older homes
Saint John, ND 58369 84%921$68,235$135,000— pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
Harrisburg, AR 72432 84%205$55,827$116,100$124 larger · 5 min longer commute
Cotulla, TX 78014 84%897$66,250$100,000$91 larger
Palmyra, ME 04965 83%1,107$60,543$154,900$135 pricier homes ($52K more)
Hamlin, WV 25523 83%368$66,563$86,600$95 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.