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 Lyons, KS 67554

Lyons: median income $64,125, home value $107,900, $60/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falls City, NE 68355 95%183$56,607$108,800$58 Very close on everything we compare
Gordon, NE 69343 94%374$59,741$116,700— smaller
Plainview, NE 68769 93%278$61,833$122,500$52 smaller
Eldora, IA 50627 92%386$74,536$131,600$70 Very close on everything we compare
Wellington, TX 79095 92%265$58,889$103,600$72 smaller
Johnsonburg, PA 15845 91%1,054$68,347$79,200— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Belle, WV 25015 91%903$56,681$98,100$63 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle Grove, IA 50533 91%374$65,595$110,200$76 younger residents
Bedford, IA 50833 91%245$61,042$112,900$69 smaller · older residents
Lenox, IA 50851 91%261$70,926$121,000— smaller
Madison, NE 68748 91%244$69,740$148,800$68 pricier homes ($41K more)
Cherokee, OK 73728 91%109$67,417$118,600— smaller
Scotland, SD 57059 90%332$59,779$121,500$60 smaller
Hoopeston, IL 60942 90%580$61,083$92,000$79 Very close on everything we compare
Westville, IL 61883 90%577$56,169$101,400$93 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16102 89%962$56,053$104,900$84 Very close on everything we compare
North Baltimore, OH 45872 89%794$62,298$127,700$79 Very close on everything we compare
Galva, IL 61434 89%474$56,780$100,100$69 older homes
Edina, MO 63537 89%347$59,891$105,000$48 smaller · newer homes
Cordell, OK 73632 89%215$72,571$114,600$74 newer homes
Ridgway, PA 15853 88%1,051$59,344$109,400— larger · older residents
Monmouth, IL 61462 88%439$64,113$102,900$92 larger
Shelbyville, IL 62565 88%510$66,498$137,600$81 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Blackwell, OK 74631 88%117$53,964$86,500$62 larger
Mingo Junction, OH 43938 87%947$55,446$101,300$70 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.