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 Durhamville, NY 13054

Durhamville: median income $94,100, home value $227,500, $96/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 97%818$84,609$217,500$101 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 94%866$93,482$204,100$112 larger
Marcus, IA 51035 93%1,015$79,338$209,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Alburnett, IA 52202 93%813$105,362$246,300$120 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, IA 52623 93%817$90,714$194,000$111 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Nashua, MT 59248 93%1,511$89,821$216,000— older residents
Axtell, NE 68924 93%1,216$85,000$236,800$103 younger residents
Luckey, OH 43443 92%415$97,917$207,100$115 younger residents
Nora Springs, IA 50458 92%872$99,643$157,500$89 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Ireton, IA 51027 91%1,040$100,893$227,200$82 younger residents
Delmar, IA 52037 91%763$90,813$198,400$91 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute
South Wayne, WI 53587 91%720$90,250$203,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Fertile, MN 56540 91%1,042$83,646$194,800$125 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Cedar Bluffs, NE 68015 91%1,073$85,357$176,600$119 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Hampton, NE 68843 91%1,147$92,778$250,000$140 Very close on everything we compare
Merrill, IA 51038 90%1,038$95,893$183,100$132 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 90%847$85,114$232,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
Princeville, IL 61559 90%739$101,200$183,800$107 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Hershey, NE 69143 90%1,301$90,625$197,900$105 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
New Berlin, PA 17855 89%171$88,929$216,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
Swayzee, IN 46986 89%553$79,438$162,600$112 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Dunkerton, IA 50626 89%835$84,306$209,400$91 newer homes
Fairbank, IA 50629 89%828$103,106$207,100$126 larger · newer homes
Alden, MN 56009 89%898$80,804$203,700$108 Very close on everything we compare
Adrian, MN 56110 89%1,015$77,875$176,400$103 cheaper homes ($51K less)

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.