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 Albany, IL 61230

Albany: median income $62,344, home value $138,600, $121/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morton, MN 56270 94%310$61,944$104,300$116 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Rawson, OH 45881 93%338$73,775$154,600$134 larger
Kimball, SD 57355 93%464$63,125$144,200— Very close on everything we compare
Reynolds, IN 47980 92%187$60,962$171,500$122 pricier homes ($33K more)
Snover, MI 48472 92%389$61,000$159,400$94 Very close on everything we compare
Garnavillo, IA 52049 92%92$61,964$170,800$105 pricier homes ($32K more)
La Grange, MO 63448 92%138$61,417$117,800$137 larger
Knoxville, AR 72845 92%473$63,462$118,500$124 newer homes
Seiling, OK 73663 92%607$61,103$166,800$143 pricier homes ($28K more)
Corsica, PA 15829 91%571$64,167$140,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Badger, MN 56714 91%563$70,962$157,100— Very close on everything we compare
Sherman, NY 14781 90%546$61,625$145,300$103 larger
Arkport, NY 14807 90%643$64,408$128,300$114 larger
Elwell, MI 48832 90%299$73,393$163,700$103 pricier homes ($25K more)
Afton, IA 50830 90%213$61,094$113,300$114 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Eddyville, IA 52553 90%132$64,583$150,000— larger
Stetsonville, WI 54480 90%229$68,333$179,900$158 pricier homes ($41K more)
Mellen, WI 54546 90%314$70,104$141,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Wabasso, MN 56293 90%313$67,396$170,500$103 pricier homes ($32K more)
Croghan, NY 13327 89%766$66,875$181,300$144 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Swanquarter, NC 27885 89%869$59,784$124,600$159 more renters
La Fontaine, IN 46940 89%246$64,089$128,100$127 larger · older residents
Tekonsha, MI 49092 89%269$64,211$156,400$126 larger · older homes
Owen, WI 54460 89%221$65,583$162,800$89 larger
Unity, WI 54488 89%211$63,571$142,400$116 younger 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.