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 Audubon, IA 50025

Audubon: median income $52,438, home value $118,100, $97/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chisholm, MN 55719 93%411$53,647$123,100$106 larger
Oberlin, KS 67749 93%322$54,000$90,100— cheaper homes ($28K less)
Wells, MN 56097 92%152$62,264$133,800$91 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, MO 64628 92%165$59,361$123,500$110 larger
Ellinwood, KS 67526 92%303$57,824$123,400$77 Very close on everything we compare
Gordon, NE 69343 92%380$59,741$116,700— Very close on everything we compare
Rushville, NE 69360 92%392$52,402$116,000— smaller
Hamilton, TX 76531 92%717$49,100$126,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16102 91%754$56,053$104,900$84 larger
Bessemer, MI 49911 91%407$57,000$106,300$87 Very close on everything we compare
Westbrook, MN 56183 91%163$45,536$138,400$109 smaller
Stockton, IL 61085 91%255$59,798$131,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Walnut, IL 61376 91%274$61,200$128,400$91 smaller
Pittsfield, IL 62363 91%261$58,500$118,000$86 larger
Elkton, MI 48731 90%612$53,021$115,500$106 smaller
Westville, IL 61883 90%398$56,169$101,400$93 younger residents
La Crosse, KS 67548 90%320$55,313$85,000$97 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Fullerton, NE 68638 90%160$56,917$144,500$96 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Walton, IN 46994 89%455$56,563$136,200$102 more homeowners
Harlowton, MT 59036 89%808$50,000$186,000$91 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Springfield, MN 56087 88%173$64,375$142,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Pana, IL 62557 88%345$51,389$88,900$91 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Columbus, KS 66725 88%315$48,443$105,000$73 larger
Arapahoe, NE 68922 88%278$57,426$107,900— smaller
Laverne, OK 73848 88%437$57,619$124,200— 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.