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 Abilene, TX 79605

Abilene: median income $62,929, home value $163,600, $143/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterloo, IA 50702 96%804$62,021$150,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45805 95%1,037$68,842$160,600$141 Very close on everything we compare
Oswego, NY 13126 93%1,473$65,346$145,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Dubuque, IA 52001 93%855$61,643$178,000$136 larger
Moline, IL 61265 92%808$66,933$147,000$131 larger
Vincennes, IN 47591 91%812$61,803$157,400$106 Very close on everything we compare
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 91%1,267$60,658$158,800$156 smaller
Council Bluffs, IA 51501 91%645$59,843$152,400$156 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44714 90%1,171$55,905$149,500$138 smaller
Tiffin, OH 44883 90%1,094$62,692$163,600$139 older residents
Elkhart, IN 46516 90%992$56,492$153,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Waterloo, IA 50701 90%803$61,475$183,800$128 Very close on everything we compare
Rock Island, IL 61201 90%805$59,396$125,600$121 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Saint Joseph, MO 64507 90%576$61,158$140,300$128 smaller
Hastings, NE 68901 90%569$66,585$190,100$109 pricier homes ($27K more)
Scottsbluff, NE 69361 90%686$58,623$155,100$174 smaller · older residents
Altus, OK 73521 90%155$60,887$160,600$125 newer homes
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 89%1,174$63,342$167,300$170 6 min longer commute
Sandusky, OH 44870 89%1,126$62,082$163,200$139 older residents
Terre Haute, IN 47803 89%846$60,565$156,300$138 Very close on everything we compare
Lansing, MI 48906 89%1,094$64,315$139,700$132 6 min longer commute
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 89%1,033$56,432$157,300$137 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49203 89%1,079$56,201$159,100$133 older residents
Marshalltown, IA 50158 89%763$70,367$140,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Davenport, IA 52804 89%806$65,849$156,800$143 6 min longer commute

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.