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 Valley Center, KS 67147

Valley Center: median income $88,006, home value $242,300, $136/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Byron, IL 61010 95%515$93,613$235,000$147 Very close on everything we compare
Breese, IL 62230 95%423$91,350$229,300$153 smaller
Highland, IL 62249 95%416$90,424$227,700$151 larger
Destrehan, LA 70047 94%673$87,333$305,300$151 pricier homes ($63K more)
Gardendale, AL 35071 93%651$82,074$261,600$153 larger
Danville, IN 46122 93%592$99,531$304,900$165 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Rockton, IL 61072 93%535$104,938$237,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Fair Grove, MO 65648 93%228$86,850$247,200$152 smaller
Hurricane, WV 25526 92%830$85,176$235,400$157 larger
Scott Depot, WV 25560 92%835$103,160$270,900$165 pricier homes ($29K more)
Roscoe, IL 61073 92%538$102,064$239,100$158 larger
Blair, NE 68008 92%261$89,583$270,800$157 pricier homes ($29K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Plattsmouth, NE 68048 92%228$89,931$261,600$162 Very close on everything we compare
Baton Rouge, LA 70818 92%618$78,432$268,200$160 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
New Wilmington, PA 16142 91%929$84,205$226,300$153 smaller · older homes
Pendleton, SC 29670 91%838$72,445$269,500$150 pricier homes ($27K more)
Winterville, GA 30683 91%826$88,198$273,600$196 pricier homes ($31K more)
Alabaster, AL 35007 91%671$88,505$245,500$158 larger
Nashport, OH 43830 91%827$88,346$234,100$186 smaller
Rootstown, OH 44272 91%884$83,173$261,300$170 smaller
Portland, MI 48875 91%735$94,216$227,500$178 Very close on everything we compare
Glenwood, IA 51534 91%235$93,646$246,600$177 Very close on everything we compare
De Witt, IA 52742 91%450$97,946$261,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Carl Junction, MO 64834 91%156$85,205$208,700$153 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Willard, MO 65781 91%214$83,816$235,300$174 Very close on everything we compare

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.