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 Eldorado, IL 62930

Eldorado: median income $52,931, home value $93,400, $63/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monessen, PA 15062 95%487$52,889$95,900$65 Very close on everything we compare
Titusville, PA 16354 93%535$48,963$102,500$83 larger
Logan, WV 25601 93%352$47,333$94,900$82 Very close on everything we compare
Belle, WV 25015 92%379$56,681$98,100$63 younger residents
Columbus, KS 66725 91%356$48,443$105,000$73 Very close on everything we compare
Ridgway, PA 15853 90%572$59,344$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Youngsville, PA 16371 90%558$57,514$116,600$57 smaller
Oelwein, IA 50662 90%383$48,646$107,700$68 older homes
Madison, WV 25130 89%363$53,294$95,900$76 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Kahoka, MO 63445 89%252$48,370$109,100$91 smaller
Eureka, KS 67045 89%428$62,629$110,100$80 smaller
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 88%552$52,500$102,500$92 younger residents
Kane, PA 16735 88%577$57,489$93,900$89 older homes
Bluefield, WV 24701 88%397$50,455$105,000$86 larger
Bellaire, OH 43906 88%440$46,380$113,900$83 Very close on everything we compare
Shamrock, TX 79079 88%679$51,250$92,500$68 smaller
Charleroi, PA 15022 87%485$58,387$121,100$67 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older homes
Nanty Glo, PA 15943 87%546$56,200$89,500$74 7 min longer commute
Shinglehouse, PA 16748 87%614$61,250$104,000$71 smaller · less walkable
Clifton Forge, VA 24422 87%471$48,750$113,400$80 older homes
Charleston, WV 25315 87%376$55,083$90,200$98 smaller
Red Bay, AL 35582 87%233$48,235$117,900$64 Very close on everything we compare
Fredonia, KS 66736 87%400$62,443$93,200$58 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Waurika, OK 73573 87%590$49,318$78,500$66 smaller · younger residents
Refugio, TX 78377 87%831$49,974$97,000$87 smaller · younger 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.