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 Herington, KS 67449

Herington: median income $69,357, home value $97,800, $52/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fontanelle, IA 50846 92%219$74,200$108,800— smaller
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 90%434$62,250$106,700$82 Very close on everything we compare
Andover, NY 14806 89%1,031$74,688$93,200$65 Very close on everything we compare
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 89%980$68,347$79,200— 6 min shorter commute
Laurens, IA 50554 89%307$63,802$82,800$68 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Villisca, IA 50864 89%187$69,861$109,900$67 smaller
Henry, IL 61537 89%432$67,404$118,200$81 Very close on everything we compare
Lewistown, IL 61542 89%378$69,107$116,200$63 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Georgetown, IL 61846 88%503$60,871$85,700$68 larger
Martinsville, IL 62442 88%486$70,284$87,200— newer homes
Cherokee, OK 73728 88%155$67,417$118,600— smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bedford, IA 50833 87%179$61,042$112,900$69 7 min shorter commute
Bushnell, IL 61422 87%364$68,207$78,400$76 older residents
Nokomis, IL 62075 87%411$65,954$93,400$73 younger residents
Waynoka, OK 73860 87%180$62,500$93,400$54 smaller
Belmont, NY 14813 86%1,020$63,750$94,300$71 Very close on everything we compare
Emlenton, PA 16373 86%923$63,047$135,600$56 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Plainview, NE 68769 86%258$61,833$122,500$52 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Meyersdale, PA 15552 85%958$65,551$143,000$76 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Cambridge City, IN 47327 85%632$68,088$124,700$84 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Winchester, IL 62694 85%351$58,460$102,200$59 older residents · newer homes
Wymore, NE 68466 85%100$61,574$87,300$80 smaller
Genoa, NE 68640 85%197$68,036$142,400$59 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Emerson, NE 68733 85%250$64,479$132,600— pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Bolivar, NY 14715 84%1,012$55,640$80,500$66 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.