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 La Crosse, IN 46348

La Crosse: median income $64,375, home value $168,800, $109/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Collins, NY 14034 94%418$62,412$151,200$134 larger
Ashley, MI 48806 94%178$61,375$155,600$112 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, MI 49235 94%142$64,219$173,500$124 larger
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 94%231$61,875$167,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Malinta, OH 43535 92%146$67,083$172,100$141 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesfield, OH 45896 92%160$62,449$173,000$145 larger
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068 92%394$74,250$191,800$116 Very close on everything we compare
Forreston, IL 61030 92%151$71,655$157,200$130 larger
Petrolia, PA 16050 91%369$56,708$132,700$123 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Ohio City, OH 45874 91%120$68,521$135,100$117 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Akron, MI 48701 91%231$62,969$112,200$108 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Lyons, MI 48851 91%151$65,726$158,000$137 larger
Galien, MI 49113 91%40$59,219$171,600$117 older residents
Mabel, MN 55954 91%294$66,250$159,600$155 Very close on everything we compare
Balaton, MN 56115 91%499$64,000$193,300$106 older residents
Delavan, IL 61734 91%154$71,435$152,700$100 larger
Nortonville, KS 66060 91%464$77,222$155,800— Very close on everything we compare
Wakefield, KS 67487 91%554$67,813$183,900$126 newer homes
Lilly, PA 15938 90%435$71,250$153,100$97 larger
Bessemer, PA 16112 90%332$74,821$154,500$114 Very close on everything we compare
Burghill, OH 44404 90%328$55,972$193,700$131 Very close on everything we compare
Dysart, IA 52224 90%287$69,805$177,000$90 larger · 5 min shorter commute
North English, IA 52316 90%271$60,768$150,600$94 more renters
Shullsburg, WI 53586 90%193$70,806$166,100$106 larger
Stewart, MN 55385 90%449$78,125$206,300$111 pricier homes ($38K more)

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.