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 Salem, IL 62881

Salem: median income $71,270, home value $115,200, $102/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ashland, KY 41102 92%337$67,879$153,800$110 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Willard, OH 44890 92%370$68,587$145,300$116 pricier homes ($30K more)
Hugoton, KS 67951 92%682$63,527$131,500$103 smaller
Perry, OK 73077 92%485$62,763$132,700$111 smaller
Houlton, ME 04730 91%1,189$61,980$145,200$128 pricier homes ($30K more)
Charles City, IA 50616 91%363$64,830$140,600$99 pricier homes ($25K more) · older homes
Flatwoods, KY 41139 90%336$59,034$112,700$110 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, IN 47670 90%77$64,907$158,500$135 pricier homes ($43K more)
Chillicothe, MO 64601 90%259$63,061$153,900$108 pricier homes ($39K more)
Burkburnett, TX 76354 90%620$68,721$159,900$136 pricier homes ($45K more)
De Leon, TX 76444 90%703$68,147$115,800$124 smaller
Lowville, NY 13367 89%787$67,873$171,000$119 pricier homes ($56K more)
Cuba, NY 14727 89%613$63,257$108,000$107 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Kenova, WV 25530 89%348$70,508$162,100$112 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Calvert City, KY 42029 89%116$64,083$154,100$117 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Girard, OH 44420 89%471$61,707$121,100$122 older homes
Tell City, IN 47586 89%128$60,587$159,000$98 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min longer commute
Chariton, IA 50049 89%284$61,190$124,900$107 smaller · older homes
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 89%213$64,512$171,400$112 pricier homes ($56K more)
Glendive, MT 59330 89%988$70,964$185,900$105 pricier homes ($71K more)
Macon, MO 63552 89%204$65,210$163,800$123 pricier homes ($49K more)
Sulphur, OK 73086 89%528$70,471$159,000$149 pricier homes ($44K more)
Borger, TX 79007 89%715$63,929$112,900$99 Very close on everything we compare
South Fulton, TN 38257 88%148$58,849$103,100$127 smaller
Pascagoula, MS 39567 88%571$62,254$139,500$93 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.