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 New Baden, IL 62265

New Baden: median income $84,853, home value $194,500, $112/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hazel Green, WI 53811 94%280$82,769$224,700$156 pricier homes ($30K more)
Reedsville, PA 17084 91%659$80,197$197,000$121 Very close on everything we compare
Kemmerer, WY 83101 91%1,120$76,947$191,200$125 Very close on everything we compare
Lapel, IN 46051 90%232$78,333$204,600$156 smaller
Huntingburg, IN 47542 90%149$77,574$198,100$135 larger
Salem, SD 57058 90%537$84,286$228,600$132 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Chapman, KS 67431 90%396$82,500$199,500$117 smaller · more homeowners
Sonora, TX 76950 90%830$78,844$157,000$104 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Champlain, NY 12919 89%946$80,931$167,500$144 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older homes
Jesup, GA 31546 89%658$66,912$207,900$135 larger
Humboldt, IA 50548 89%374$76,214$188,200$113 6 min shorter commute
Independence, IA 50644 89%295$80,026$186,600$123 larger
Galesville, WI 54630 89%394$95,549$272,300$153 pricier homes ($78K more)
Lewiston, MN 55952 89%392$91,389$228,200$139 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Rushford, MN 55971 89%381$88,750$231,700$142 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Osage City, KS 66523 89%332$74,716$167,200$122 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Gibbon, NE 68840 89%511$76,394$208,100$91 smaller
Kingfisher, OK 73750 89%490$69,931$229,100$126 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Troy, TX 76579 89%666$85,480$229,700$151 pricier homes ($35K more)
Groton, NY 13073 88%753$71,452$167,600$137 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Adams, NY 13605 88%796$70,045$191,100$136 Very close on everything we compare
New Wilmington, PA 16142 88%528$84,205$226,300$153 pricier homes ($32K more)
Girard, PA 16417 88%549$88,041$190,300$141 larger · older residents
Martinsburg, PA 16662 88%618$73,828$221,400$147 pricier homes ($27K more)
Kevil, KY 42053 88%109$80,765$174,300$135 more homeowners

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.