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 Iowa Falls, IA 50126

Iowa Falls: median income $55,185, home value $133,300, $104/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
La Salle, IL 61301 94%229$60,328$129,000$104 larger
Raton, NM 87740 94%708$52,815$153,100$114 Very close on everything we compare
Sharpsville, PA 16150 93%664$56,334$148,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Litchfield, IL 62056 93%298$62,643$126,500$98 Very close on everything we compare
Antigo, WI 54409 92%274$53,576$123,300$133 larger
Benson, MN 56215 92%225$56,604$167,500$99 pricier homes ($34K more)
Gibson City, IL 60936 92%291$51,323$157,200$146 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, MO 64628 92%189$59,361$123,500$110 more homeowners
Fort Scott, KS 66701 92%333$56,795$112,700$101 larger
Fairbury, NE 68352 92%261$55,370$132,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Brady, TX 76825 92%853$53,665$148,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Massena, NY 13662 91%931$59,106$119,400$115 larger
Dunbar, WV 25064 91%670$57,263$119,900$116 Very close on everything we compare
Huntington, WV 25704 91%633$53,189$119,700$105 larger
Marion, IN 46952 91%415$52,880$146,700$111 larger
Chisholm, MN 55719 91%345$53,647$123,100$106 more homeowners
Mendota, IL 61342 91%224$65,348$153,500$112 Very close on everything we compare
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 91%393$53,622$100,600$82 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Trenton, MO 64683 91%169$52,109$110,000$78 Very close on everything we compare
Kingman, KS 67068 91%426$57,562$94,400$120 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Wellington, KS 67152 91%422$52,275$119,200$93 younger residents
Independence, KS 67301 91%387$54,950$120,000$96 larger
Auburn, NE 68305 91%199$57,906$125,400$104 Very close on everything we compare
Beatrice, NE 68310 91%238$60,928$168,000$118 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Pawhuska, OK 74056 91%434$47,311$131,000$106 Very close on everything we compare

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.