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 Friend, NE 68359

Friend: median income $90,909, home value $179,900, $109/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Colfax, IL 61728 93%454$97,159$155,200$100 Very close on everything we compare
Clifton, IL 60927 92%490$102,143$213,700$144 pricier homes ($34K more)
Atlanta, IL 61723 91%424$85,230$150,800$113 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Mount Hope, KS 67108 90%192$87,679$160,500$116 older residents
Fredericktown, PA 15333 89%910$89,333$185,600$112 older residents
Blue Mound, IL 62513 89%436$83,125$142,900$82 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Nortonville, KS 66060 89%134$77,222$155,800— Very close on everything we compare
Vega, TX 79092 89%467$83,068$176,700$136 Very close on everything we compare
Sprakers, NY 12166 88%1,183$94,821$219,400$142 pricier homes ($40K more)
Boswell, IN 47921 88%519$100,455$165,000$114 5 min shorter commute
Hopkinton, IA 52237 88%333$84,063$166,800$104 younger residents
West Concord, MN 55985 88%330$83,636$245,200$141 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents
Mc Lean, IL 61754 88%427$98,681$162,500$110 7 min shorter commute
Divernon, IL 62530 87%409$82,188$160,100$104 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tiro, OH 44887 86%757$85,793$135,000$159 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Wanatah, IN 46390 86%544$87,639$228,000$130 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · older residents
Rothsay, MN 56579 86%409$89,583$235,500$119 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents
Udall, KS 67146 86%224$79,688$164,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
White Deer, TX 79097 86%418$88,182$144,600— cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
East Bethany, NY 14054 85%996$79,286$172,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
Helena, OH 43435 85%729$89,000$176,400$167 8 min shorter commute
North Liberty, IN 46554 85%569$88,068$203,000$154 larger
Boyd, WI 54726 85%434$78,500$192,100$114 Very close on everything we compare
Tonica, IL 61370 85%429$91,094$155,100$130 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Danvers, IL 61732 85%424$107,941$224,400$129 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents

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.