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 Flora, IN 46929

Flora: median income $56,940, home value $186,500, $129/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sigourney, IA 52591 97%302$62,404$156,500$130 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Elroy, WI 53929 94%294$65,568$187,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Edgerton, OH 43517 93%111$58,578$136,500$134 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Rockwell City, IA 50579 93%440$61,108$126,000$118 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Mc Graw, NY 13101 92%557$63,587$143,700$112 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Castile, NY 14427 92%460$56,490$134,800$128 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Shadyside, OH 43947 92%305$58,269$153,600$130 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Ithaca, MI 48847 92%213$66,264$172,500$123 larger
Marengo, IA 52301 92%302$70,150$160,300$109 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Horicon, WI 53032 92%228$56,085$189,000$165 larger
Barron, WI 54812 92%431$63,100$161,700$137 larger
Clintonville, WI 54929 92%305$64,626$167,100$134 larger
Webster, SD 57274 92%647$68,083$173,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Glenns Ferry, ID 83623 92%1,487$58,145$217,600$146 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Helper, UT 84526 92%1,284$59,850$228,100$155 pricier homes ($42K more)
Vernon, NY 13476 91%590$62,798$204,000$148 Very close on everything we compare
Brockway, PA 15824 91%404$64,623$155,600$144 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Fredonia, PA 16124 91%330$55,455$171,500— smaller
Canton, PA 17724 91%508$55,817$175,000$122 larger
Weber City, VA 24290 91%345$60,923$175,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
Beloit, OH 44609 91%290$58,221$193,500$109 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson, IA 50129 91%422$60,671$166,100$117 larger · older residents
Camanche, IA 52730 91%214$64,543$177,200$141 larger · newer homes
Hector, MN 55342 91%508$64,861$169,300$153 smaller
Eveleth, MN 55734 91%563$62,703$158,700$101 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 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.