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 Laurens, NY 13796

Laurens: median income $88,750, home value $166,900, $112/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chapman, KS 67431 93%1,168$82,500$199,500$117 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Merigold, MS 38759 92%1,036$77,083$143,400— Very close on everything we compare
Danville, IA 52623 91%842$90,714$194,000$111 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Ipswich, SD 57451 91%1,200$86,000$195,700$122 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Leroy, AL 36548 90%1,039$78,676$202,700— pricier homes ($36K more)
Sweetser, IN 46987 90%566$80,893$152,500— more single-family homes
Dunkerton, IA 50626 90%865$84,306$209,400$91 pricier homes ($43K more)
Donnellson, IA 52625 90%858$80,078$205,300$125 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Hopedale, IL 61747 90%753$80,333$188,200$126 Very close on everything we compare
Riverton, KS 66770 90%1,103$90,521$149,100$113 more single-family homes
Cameron, SC 29030 89%690$80,313$198,600$148 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Lewiston, MN 55952 89%847$91,389$228,200$139 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Salem, SD 57058 89%1,122$84,286$228,600$132 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Maroa, IL 61756 89%738$86,375$181,300$105 larger
New Berlin, IL 62670 89%789$78,750$211,900$134 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Wathena, KS 66090 89%1,045$87,025$161,100$152 larger
Olpe, KS 66865 89%1,144$93,333$181,600$125 younger residents
Pewamo, MI 48873 88%494$86,250$195,300$174 pricier homes ($28K more)
Conrad, IA 50621 88%905$88,077$214,700$106 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Groton, SD 57445 88%1,156$84,948$193,800— pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Wall, SD 57790 88%1,361$75,096$187,500$172 Very close on everything we compare
Annawan, IL 61234 88%763$79,688$146,500$92 older homes
Green Valley, IL 61534 88%765$90,104$167,300$108 Very close on everything we compare
Hershey, NE 69143 88%1,331$90,625$197,900$105 pricier homes ($31K more)
Stonewall, OK 74871 88%1,273$70,838$177,800$145 larger

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.