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 Atlantic, IA 50022

Atlantic: median income $63,125, home value $157,600, $104/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beloit, KS 67420 95%212$62,938$144,200— smaller
Houlton, ME 04730 94%1,386$61,980$145,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, WI 54806 94%415$64,864$185,800$112 pricier homes ($28K more)
Beatrice, NE 68310 94%120$60,928$168,000$118 larger · 5 min longer commute
Benson, MN 56215 93%272$56,604$167,500$99 smaller
Montevideo, MN 56265 93%249$74,848$162,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Shelbyville, IL 62565 93%353$66,498$137,600$81 Very close on everything we compare
Broken Bow, NE 68822 93%240$67,500$154,600— smaller
Huron, SD 57350 92%261$66,573$173,000$101 larger
Russell, KS 67665 92%268$60,662$136,100$92 smaller
Malone, NY 12953 91%1,068$68,799$129,400$99 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Cut Bank, MT 59427 91%981$61,094$174,300$115 smaller
Litchfield, IL 62056 91%321$62,643$126,500$98 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 7 min longer commute
Great Bend, KS 67530 91%288$58,780$137,600$99 larger
Oneill, NE 68763 91%201$65,362$162,800$95 smaller
Holdrege, NE 68949 91%237$63,273$197,200$114 pricier homes ($40K more)
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 91%553$54,159$143,400$117 larger
Lakeview, OR 97630 91%1,303$69,531$221,000$96 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Kingsford, MI 49802 90%461$62,209$126,500$116 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners
Marinette, WI 54143 90%448$64,491$142,900$138 larger
Blue Earth, MN 56013 90%162$71,553$176,900$103 smaller
Windom, MN 56101 90%172$77,083$183,700$117 pricier homes ($26K more)
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 90%217$66,352$176,800$118 newer homes
Winner, SD 57580 90%279$59,547$133,900$94 smaller
Fairbury, NE 68352 90%143$55,370$132,200$107 cheaper homes ($25K 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.