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.

Reset

Towns most like Appleton, NY 14008

Appleton: median income $77,702, home value $188,700, $184/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shelby, IA 51570 92%865$77,708$204,700$144 younger residents
Rockford, IA 50468 91%721$73,403$173,700— Very close on everything we compare
Monroeville, OH 44847 90%253$76,060$187,500$157 larger
Darlington, IN 47940 90%474$70,711$152,100$157 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Woodland, MI 48897 90%331$69,531$224,600$204 pricier homes ($36K more)
Dayton, IA 50530 90%784$73,250$167,900— newer homes
Keystone, IA 52249 90%695$75,417$163,200$215 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bear Creek, WI 54922 90%510$76,350$218,100$166 pricier homes ($29K more) · newer homes
Schleswig, IA 51461 89%855$73,768$183,100— newer homes
Preston, IA 52069 89%603$75,313$169,500$155 newer homes
New Washington, OH 44854 88%270$70,357$146,200$134 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Dakota, IL 61018 88%556$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Blissfield, MI 49228 87%286$82,703$196,500$179 larger
Brownsville, WI 53006 87%496$88,625$247,600$232 pricier homes ($59K more)
Brandon, WI 53919 87%509$97,019$223,400$150 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Palmyra, MI 49268 85%287$80,833$164,600$176 6 min shorter commute
Clarksville, IA 50619 85%708$84,076$163,200$112 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Griswold, IA 51535 85%854$76,371$152,300$137 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Argyle, WI 53504 85%568$83,690$220,700$188 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · newer homes
Ashton, IL 61006 85%547$75,938$155,500$107 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Gypsum, KS 67448 85%1,028$89,076$127,100$153 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Randolph, NE 68771 85%948$83,580$162,500— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Attica, OH 44807 84%267$87,356$153,200$120 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 84%370$77,083$208,700$140 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Oxford, IN 47971 84%483$64,375$152,600$149 cheaper homes ($36K 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.