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 Peabody, KS 66866

Peabody: median income $58,705, home value $97,200, $46/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Witt, IL 62094 92%426$60,644$73,000$43 smaller
Waynoka, OK 73860 92%145$62,500$93,400$54 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfax, MO 64446 91%176$56,949$101,800— smaller
Laurens, IA 50554 90%344$63,802$82,800$68 Very close on everything we compare
Ripley, NY 14775 89%959$49,961$113,600$43 6 min shorter commute
Wymore, NE 68466 89%136$61,574$87,300$80 Very close on everything we compare
Plainview, NE 68769 88%290$61,833$122,500$52 pricier homes ($25K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Russell, IA 50238 87%284$59,625$83,300$68 more homeowners
Bedford, IA 50833 87%214$61,042$112,900$69 5 min shorter commute
Fontanelle, IA 50846 87%255$74,200$108,800— Very close on everything we compare
Galva, IL 61434 87%429$56,780$100,100$69 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Emerson, NE 68733 87%285$64,479$132,600— pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Roseville, IL 61473 86%387$60,833$108,100$69 Very close on everything we compare
Owaneco, IL 62555 86%436$69,676$131,300— pricier homes ($34K more)
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 85%1,003$68,347$79,200— larger · more apartments and townhomes
Sheffield, PA 16347 85%986$58,125$79,100$39 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Ridgeville, IN 47380 85%662$57,000$99,900$65 older residents
Nokomis, IL 62075 85%429$65,954$93,400$73 larger
Warsaw, IL 62379 85%339$62,200$103,200$56 newer homes
Genoa, NE 68640 85%229$68,036$142,400$59 pricier homes ($45K more) · newer homes
Rotan, TX 79546 85%413$58,984$65,000$40 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Bolivar, NY 14715 84%1,036$55,640$80,500$66 more apartments and townhomes
Risingsun, OH 43457 84%757$54,583$153,800— pricier homes ($57K more)
Sutherland, IA 51058 84%343$63,036$133,000— pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Ivanhoe, MN 56142 84%437$57,500$120,500$63 smaller · 6 min shorter commute

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.