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 Dexter, IA 50070

Dexter: median income $92,083, home value $213,300, $174/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Huntington, MA 01050 92%1,096$95,882$289,500$176 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Elmwood, WI 54740 91%246$79,387$239,700$231 pricier homes ($26K more)
Kingsley, PA 18826 90%950$88,958$267,800$150 pricier homes ($55K more)
Sedley, VA 23878 90%978$87,077$219,900$174 Very close on everything we compare
Tipton, MI 49287 90%523$88,068$263,300$158 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Monroe Center, IL 61052 90%271$91,797$225,700$174 6 min shorter commute
Addieville, IL 62214 90%327$104,063$169,100— cheaper homes ($44K less)
Valley Falls, NY 12185 89%1,060$110,625$210,900$182 newer homes
Perrinton, MI 48871 89%500$84,803$230,600$169 larger · newer homes
Blanchardville, WI 53516 89%240$85,324$306,600$157 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Germantown, IL 62245 89%321$91,767$204,500$160 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wellington, MO 64097 89%166$74,750$229,800$192 Very close on everything we compare
Hookstown, PA 15050 88%720$91,406$209,800$134 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Dixon Springs, TN 37057 88%561$78,940$224,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Austinburg, OH 44010 88%689$80,455$223,300$173 7 min shorter commute
Huntsburg, OH 44046 88%679$80,625$222,200$185 Very close on everything we compare
Wanatah, IN 46390 88%380$87,639$228,000$130 larger
New Lothrop, MI 48460 88%534$80,000$213,900$195 larger · younger residents
Mulliken, MI 48861 88%485$89,412$184,600$157 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cazenovia, WI 53924 88%243$72,333$222,400$218 Very close on everything we compare
Wilton, ND 58579 88%508$93,750$281,500$127 pricier homes ($68K more)
Macon, IL 62544 88%301$89,167$146,500$111 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Leslie, MO 63056 88%264$75,517$211,300$174 larger · newer homes
Gasport, NY 14067 87%806$95,671$184,700$174 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
West Alexander, PA 15376 87%723$86,607$218,900$121 6 min shorter commute

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.