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 Dubois, IN 47527

Dubois: median income $91,169, home value $273,700, $92/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Virginia, IA 50210 92%412$87,813$324,600$108 pricier homes ($51K more)
Douglass, KS 67039 92%560$91,964$201,500$105 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Maxwell, IA 50161 90%422$98,519$256,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Davis, IL 61019 89%307$105,150$232,100$114 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
New Douglas, IL 62074 89%163$79,808$261,400$90 smaller
Liberty, IL 62347 88%250$93,810$225,900$103 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 88%297$87,431$283,100— smaller
Cumby, TX 75433 88%626$86,042$207,600$108 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Hiram, OH 44234 87%358$75,547$242,000$95 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Riverside, IA 52327 87%328$86,942$298,800$146 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Worden, MT 59088 87%1,205$90,625$234,300— cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · younger residents
Petersburg, PA 16669 86%490$78,977$215,500$113 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Moravia, IA 52571 86%363$81,953$197,800$139 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Deer Park, WI 54007 86%544$85,398$309,400— pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Henderson, MN 56044 86%558$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($60K more)
Springville, PA 18844 85%617$92,750$246,300— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Thornton, WV 26440 85%374$92,824$216,800— cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 85%264$78,824$222,900$128 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 85%462$79,990$225,700$107 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Windthorst, TX 76389 85%733$98,750$229,200$122 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Springwater, NY 14560 84%563$75,257$178,200$87 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Alexandria, AL 36250 84%328$83,406$211,600$140 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Blanchardville, WI 53516 84%340$85,324$306,600$157 pricier homes ($33K more)
Genoa, WI 54632 84%419$82,500$236,100— cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Elgin, MN 55932 84%483$100,078$316,500$120 pricier homes ($43K more) · 9 min shorter commute

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.