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 Ferdinand, IN 47532

Ferdinand: median income $84,750, home value $236,200, $107/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dyersville, IA 52040 96%369$84,761$242,300$126 Very close on everything we compare
Monticello, IA 52310 95%359$86,080$195,800$111 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Hazen, ND 58545 95%974$81,641$202,700$114 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Silver Lake, KS 66539 95%489$87,554$230,600$138 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NE 68446 95%525$90,746$236,700$127 smaller
Bellevue, IA 52031 93%336$86,674$244,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Ponca City, OK 74604 93%568$80,331$210,000$117 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Lavalette, WV 25535 92%240$72,446$216,700$105 smaller
Williamstown, WV 26187 92%302$83,226$198,300$145 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Rushford, MN 55971 92%463$88,750$231,700$142 Very close on everything we compare
Inman, KS 67546 92%593$76,739$192,800$107 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Versailles, OH 45380 91%187$84,135$235,300$139 older homes
Fort Jennings, OH 45844 91%234$88,792$231,300$123 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, IA 50644 91%394$80,026$186,600$123 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Cuba City, WI 53807 91%356$77,887$225,500$158 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, WI 53813 91%377$84,004$220,400$118 older homes
Edgar, WI 54426 91%489$78,942$218,200$116 Very close on everything we compare
Marathon, WI 54448 91%487$94,432$246,900$158 Very close on everything we compare
Slayton, MN 56172 91%610$71,875$187,300$96 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Clear Lake, SD 57226 91%679$83,125$206,400$102 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Ipswich, SD 57451 91%798$86,000$195,700$122 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · younger residents
Allegany, NY 14706 90%515$73,236$176,000$111 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Turbotville, PA 17772 90%573$81,146$241,900$136 smaller
Orangeville, PA 17859 90%591$75,515$224,800$118 smaller
Mc Comb, OH 45858 90%257$74,709$196,700$144 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller

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.