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 Schuyler, NE 68661

Schuyler: median income $83,279, home value $155,200, $95/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arcola, IL 61910 90%475$88,538$143,200$108 smaller
Perryton, TX 79070 90%405$70,915$131,500$88 Very close on everything we compare
Monahans, TX 79756 90%755$67,468$160,600— Very close on everything we compare
Denison, IA 51442 89%96$66,767$159,400$95 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Stockton, TX 79735 89%799$78,935$174,500$94 larger
Scott City, MO 63780 87%499$72,171$169,600$102 Very close on everything we compare
Friona, TX 79035 87%563$72,202$158,600$82 older residents
Osceola, IA 50213 86%174$73,026$165,500$115 6 min longer commute
Arthur, IL 61911 86%467$82,633$171,600$88 smaller · less walkable
Hennessey, OK 73742 86%374$70,538$171,800$92 smaller · less walkable
Forest City, IA 50436 85%215$74,940$167,900$96 Very close on everything we compare
Sheldon, IA 51201 85%134$68,799$197,800$118 pricier homes ($43K more)
Virden, IL 62690 85%406$84,196$118,300$101 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Pecos, TX 79772 85%780$63,347$120,400— cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Princeton, IN 47670 84%547$64,907$158,500$135 larger · older residents
Humboldt, IA 50548 84%170$76,214$188,200$113 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
West Liberty, IA 52776 84%300$79,665$204,000$126 pricier homes ($49K more) · less walkable
Marceline, MO 64658 84%247$75,848$144,700$98 smaller · older residents
Rangely, CO 81648 84%621$71,705$199,300$117 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Pascagoula, MS 39567 83%901$62,254$139,500$93 Very close on everything we compare
Hawarden, IA 51023 83%111$80,357$173,300$99 smaller · less walkable
Abbotsford, WI 54405 83%418$69,659$177,900$112 smaller
Arcadia, WI 54612 83%342$77,647$196,400$156 pricier homes ($41K more)
Saint James, MN 56081 83%214$67,337$163,800$106 older residents
Glendive, MT 59330 83%543$70,964$185,900$105 pricier homes ($31K 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.