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 Xenia, IL 62899

Xenia: median income $55,482, home value $147,800, $50/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burnsville, MS 38833 96%262$52,917$142,300— Very close on everything we compare
Delcambre, LA 70528 93%630$49,676$125,700$59 older residents
Ballard, WV 24918 92%435$63,594$140,800— younger residents
Maplesville, AL 36750 88%415$49,345$156,800$58 larger · older residents
Dunnville, KY 42528 87%223$50,227$158,800$76 newer homes
Puxico, MO 63960 87%144$57,875$146,500$67 larger
Freer, TX 78357 87%939$68,000$137,500$74 Very close on everything we compare
Atlantic, PA 16111 86%484$70,074$162,300— smaller
Seymour, IA 52590 86%278$66,833$167,600$58 Very close on everything we compare
Castle Creek, NY 13744 85%714$61,086$120,000— cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Altona, NY 12910 84%883$53,021$140,700— older residents
Lilesville, NC 28091 84%542$52,917$152,900— older residents
Randolph, MS 38864 84%311$54,130$161,500$79 younger residents
Pattonsburg, MO 64670 84%309$52,083$177,400— pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · older residents
Pantego, NC 27860 82%689$62,083$145,300— 9 min shorter commute
Belmont, MS 38827 82%286$59,226$142,600$60 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Hickory, MS 39332 82%437$65,286$104,900— cheaper homes ($43K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fresno, OH 43824 82%385$54,757$183,700— pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Rutland, OH 45775 82%350$47,036$116,700— cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Middletown, MO 63359 82%152$75,227$160,200— Very close on everything we compare
Ravenwood, MO 64479 82%344$61,184$150,700— smaller · older residents
West Edmeston, NY 13485 81%753$62,337$151,600$82 Very close on everything we compare
Cascade, VA 24069 81%511$51,575$157,200$60 older residents
Walstonburg, NC 27888 81%638$55,167$109,400$76 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Ogema, MN 56569 81%691$57,434$209,500— pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller · older residents

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.