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 Collins, IA 50055

Collins: median income $85,278, home value $200,000, $199/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stewartsville, MO 64490 94%159$88,750$181,800$189 larger
Strum, WI 54770 93%208$83,636$226,500$189 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Abbott, TX 76621 93%722$81,932$241,300$201 pricier homes ($41K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Fisher, IL 61843 92%280$97,943$192,200$155 larger
Palmyra, NE 68418 92%181$86,065$203,400$225 Very close on everything we compare
Mertzon, TX 76941 92%843$78,359$191,700$159 Very close on everything we compare
Groton, VT 05046 91%1,073$84,375$259,000$202 pricier homes ($59K more)
Kendall, NY 14476 91%782$90,536$188,800$192 larger
Marine, IL 62061 91%285$87,938$185,600$193 5 min shorter commute
Loami, IL 62661 91%237$80,833$180,300— Very close on everything we compare
Chilhowee, MO 64733 91%229$77,083$218,100$259 Very close on everything we compare
Maple Hill, KS 66507 91%244$96,786$218,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Hannacroix, NY 12087 90%997$91,458$240,600$229 pricier homes ($41K more)
Jamestown, IN 46147 90%373$80,707$216,800$203 larger
Houston, MN 55943 90%157$72,411$239,600$209 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Evansville, MN 56326 90%308$85,625$244,300$231 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Dearborn, MO 64439 90%182$91,136$286,100$194 pricier homes ($86K more)
Sturgeon, MO 65284 90%194$97,434$216,500$210 larger
Perry, KS 66073 90%223$86,641$216,600$179 larger · older residents
Riley, KS 66531 90%258$79,063$188,000$144 5 min shorter commute
Garwood, TX 77442 90%877$70,859$237,100$155 pricier homes ($37K more)
New Lothrop, MI 48460 89%482$80,000$213,900$195 larger
Poplar, WI 54864 89%331$91,250$242,100$182 pricier homes ($42K more)
Ironton, MN 56455 89%318$73,214$222,600$163 larger
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 89%210$78,958$186,300— larger

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.