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 Johnston City, IL 62951

Johnston City: median income $50,657, home value $99,700, $97/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Galena, KS 66739 95%319$52,289$83,000$108 Very close on everything we compare
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 93%470$50,610$121,000$105 younger residents
Kahoka, MO 63445 93%234$48,370$109,100$91 Very close on everything we compare
Thayer, MO 65791 93%170$42,470$100,500$104 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, KY 42031 92%80$57,097$118,700$84 smaller
Emporium, PA 15834 91%621$50,609$87,400$89 older homes
South Fulton, TN 38257 91%93$58,849$103,100$127 younger residents
Newberry, MI 49868 91%614$55,074$94,500$113 younger residents
Linden, TX 75563 91%452$52,565$121,900$105 6 min longer commute
Moss Point, MS 39563 90%512$44,243$110,300$95 larger · younger residents
Sturgis, KY 42459 90%54$51,563$96,600$105 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Manistique, MI 49854 90%582$55,944$125,400$109 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hampton, IA 50441 90%408$49,910$127,100$102 pricier homes ($27K more) · older homes
Shelbina, MO 63468 90%212$45,882$100,600$91 smaller · younger residents
Brookfield, MO 64628 89%261$59,361$123,500$110 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain Grove, MO 65711 89%190$50,663$110,300$144 larger · younger residents
Hale Center, TX 79041 89%769$61,832$101,000$79 smaller
Rogers City, MI 49779 88%586$53,465$124,000$79 Very close on everything we compare
Corning, AR 72422 88%134$56,507$96,500$92 younger residents
Seymour, TX 76380 88%649$45,880$103,100$115 smaller · more renters
Cuba, NY 14727 87%638$63,257$108,000$107 Very close on everything we compare
Iron River, MI 49935 87%571$57,236$111,500$139 older homes
Hurley, WI 54534 87%599$53,468$123,600$121 smaller · older homes
Ash Flat, AR 72513 87%187$40,055$98,100$137 smaller
Conklin, NY 13748 86%752$62,125$122,900$121 older 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.