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 Sandoval, IL 62882

Sandoval: median income $55,582, home value $89,300, $85/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sardis, GA 30456 92%566$53,014$87,600— Very close on everything we compare
Cusseta, GA 31805 92%500$56,544$103,300$100 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonburg, LA 71340 92%496$65,121$108,200— Very close on everything we compare
Hinsdale, NY 14743 91%614$57,244$94,500$69 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Rae Helena, GA 31037 90%571$55,794$58,900$78 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Alapaha, GA 31622 90%600$51,522$104,500— Very close on everything we compare
Joaquin, TX 75954 90%538$56,600$91,700— larger
Mc Intyre, GA 31054 89%518$53,929$111,500— smaller
Rebecca, GA 31783 89%567$53,571$97,400— Very close on everything we compare
Quapaw, OK 74363 89%329$55,524$113,700$103 more single-family homes
Mc Bee, SC 29101 88%569$56,750$125,300— pricier homes ($36K more)
Houlka, MS 38850 88%315$52,807$84,700— Very close on everything we compare
Friendship, NY 14739 87%628$57,794$78,600$86 more single-family homes
Smackover, AR 71762 87%417$50,577$106,400$67 Very close on everything we compare
Moira, NY 12957 86%864$54,572$87,600$77 younger residents · more renters
Wrightsville, GA 31096 86%542$46,282$91,300$75 larger
Vernon, AL 35592 86%340$45,526$119,900$102 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Alton, MO 65606 86%182$51,909$118,800$82 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Mesquite, NM 88048 86%1,083$43,750$99,700$105 larger
Norfolk, NY 13667 85%846$59,849$99,700$86 larger · more single-family homes
Sugar Grove, VA 24375 85%440$53,571$75,200$93 older residents · 7 min longer commute
North Tazewell, VA 24630 85%425$57,254$107,100$96 larger
Oakwood, VA 24631 85%400$43,980$66,800$77 Very close on everything we compare
Pineville, WV 24874 85%418$54,596$96,600— 6 min shorter commute
Hamlin, WV 25523 85%380$66,563$86,600$95 more single-family homes

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.