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 Iron River, MI 49935

Iron River: median income $57,236, home value $111,500, $139/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hurley, WI 54534 93%78$53,468$123,600$121 smaller
Sodus, NY 14551 92%603$59,167$123,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, MO 64628 92%490$59,361$123,500$110 younger residents
Ridgway, PA 15853 91%593$59,344$109,400— younger residents
Sharpsville, PA 16150 91%527$56,334$148,200$147 pricier homes ($37K more)
Chisholm, MN 55719 91%222$53,647$123,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, MN 56256 91%372$65,521$124,200$119 smaller
Pittsfield, IL 62363 91%462$58,500$118,000$86 Very close on everything we compare
Rushville, IL 62681 91%424$65,889$111,900$134 Very close on everything we compare
Conklin, NY 13748 90%695$62,125$122,900$121 smaller
Stoystown, PA 15563 90%640$62,411$139,600$128 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Toronto, OH 43964 90%559$60,365$132,800$135 larger · 5 min longer commute
Caribou, ME 04736 89%980$54,368$139,000$139 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Johnstown, PA 15909 89%629$61,016$110,200$107 6 min longer commute
Hubbard, OH 44425 89%528$61,568$145,200$155 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Saint Marys, PA 15857 88%597$67,662$150,100$161 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Crestline, OH 44827 88%471$56,757$125,900$148 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Walton, IN 46994 88%393$56,563$136,200$102 smaller
Jefferson, IA 50129 88%401$60,671$166,100$117 pricier homes ($55K more)
Hampton, IA 50441 88%323$49,910$127,100$102 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, IL 61085 88%267$59,798$131,300$111 smaller · younger residents
Marion, KS 66861 88%684$60,565$150,300$108 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Wells, MN 56097 87%297$62,264$133,800$91 smaller
Appleton, MN 56208 87%360$59,766$102,800$114 smaller
Tyndall, SD 57066 87%502$56,389$112,000$119 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.