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 Dolomite, AL 35061

Dolomite: median income $69,432, home value $166,000, $95/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clara City, MN 56222 95%912$71,429$156,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Freeman, SD 57029 92%888$73,750$179,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Worthington, KY 41183 90%423$65,609$133,200$127 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Newell, IA 50568 90%768$75,250$137,700$95 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Sibley, IA 51249 89%834$61,500$160,700$117 larger
Ellsworth, KS 67439 89%725$73,409$158,300— larger
Creighton, NE 68729 89%860$63,292$152,300$71 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 88%841$71,648$161,800$96 larger
Springfield, SD 57062 88%880$62,321$134,900$110 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Reynolds, IN 47980 87%504$60,962$171,500$122 less walkable
Alden, IA 50006 87%716$69,783$121,200$101 cheaper homes ($45K less)
George, IA 51237 87%839$61,667$159,500$89 older residents
Oakley, KS 67748 87%866$78,083$137,100— cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Dorchester, NE 68343 87%747$74,554$173,400$99 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Fullerton, NE 68638 87%813$56,917$144,500$96 6 min longer commute
Osceola, NE 68651 87%789$78,487$191,300$99 pricier homes ($25K more)
Neligh, NE 68756 87%849$61,667$158,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Wheeler, TX 79096 87%769$67,165$160,600$88 newer homes
Hawarden, IA 51023 86%836$80,357$173,300$99 larger
Sleepy Eye, MN 56085 86%855$73,000$167,100$106 larger
Winnebago, MN 56098 86%811$69,000$147,900$103 6 min longer commute
Raymond, MN 56282 86%911$69,896$201,400$110 pricier homes ($35K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 86%988$74,583$154,100$104 6 min longer commute
Moweaqua, IL 62550 86%441$73,634$149,600$105 larger
Marceline, MO 64658 86%544$75,848$144,700$98 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.