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 Nichols, NY 13812

Nichols: median income $82,679, home value $143,800, $49/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mendon, IL 62351 93%789$77,298$147,800$48 Very close on everything we compare
Lenox, IA 50851 92%944$70,926$121,000— Very close on everything we compare
Odebolt, IA 51458 92%966$86,250$149,400— smaller
Golden Meadow, LA 70357 92%1,169$71,383$132,900$45 Very close on everything we compare
Walnut Grove, MN 56180 90%975$67,689$131,600$47 smaller
Dakota, IL 61018 90%675$76,471$157,800— smaller
Orangeville, IL 61060 90%680$76,726$161,000$53 smaller
Burrton, KS 67020 90%1,158$80,680$130,200$77 smaller
Elma, IA 50628 89%819$68,750$153,500— smaller
Eddyville, IA 52553 89%842$64,583$150,000— Very close on everything we compare
Clarkson, NE 68629 89%1,065$78,438$132,800— smaller
Elgin, NE 68636 89%1,112$78,056$113,800— cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Harvard, NE 68944 89%1,129$69,432$125,800— smaller
Sweetser, IN 46987 88%499$80,893$152,500— smaller
Holland, IN 47541 88%621$78,409$156,800— smaller · newer homes
Nashua, IA 50658 88%825$71,936$155,100$68 Very close on everything we compare
Marissa, IL 62257 88%753$78,750$138,100$67 7 min longer commute
Frankfort, KS 66427 88%1,063$79,481$133,600— smaller · older residents
Arnold, NE 69120 88%1,224$69,886$158,200— smaller
Deshler, OH 43516 87%393$89,000$150,900$73 5 min longer commute
New Riegel, OH 44853 87%366$90,281$156,100— smaller
Eldora, IA 50627 87%856$74,536$131,600$70 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Ayr, IA 50854 87%930$81,250$161,800$78 Very close on everything we compare
Schleswig, IA 51461 87%977$73,768$183,100— pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Albion, IL 62806 87%667$66,776$120,800— newer homes

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.