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 Johnston, IA 50131

Johnston: median income $106,551, home value $369,400, $228/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln, NE 68512 92%168$104,448$322,400$167 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Richland, WA 99352 92%1,305$100,108$474,100$263 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Champaign, IL 61822 91%302$99,006$287,000$168 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Lincoln, NE 68516 91%166$100,821$354,000$170 larger
Albuquerque, NM 87113 90%829$95,922$385,200$248 smaller
Lincoln, NE 68526 88%163$113,910$446,500$190 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40241 87%489$94,078$373,900$172 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40509 86%553$94,804$366,300$191 larger
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 86%251$97,051$379,500$224 larger · less walkable
Madison, WI 53718 86%247$102,843$363,600$227 more renters
Salem, OR 97306 86%1,484$101,753$463,100$267 pricier homes ($94K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55125 85%228$119,260$416,100$192 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66223 85%201$114,855$437,500$186 pricier homes ($68K more) · more renters
Hilliard, OH 43026 84%563$111,440$347,900$212 larger · less walkable
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 84%197$88,955$396,100$206 pricier homes ($27K more)
Tulsa, OK 74137 84%408$102,798$404,300$158 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Essex Junction, VT 05452 83%1,055$101,349$432,400$265 pricier homes ($63K more) · less walkable · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27615 83%903$112,754$479,000$241 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · older homes
Dayton, OH 45458 83%520$110,150$362,700$175 larger · older homes
Fishers, IN 46038 83%419$106,886$333,200$170 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · less walkable
Eugene, OR 97408 83%1,487$104,945$539,600$327 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller · older residents
Cary, NC 27513 82%899$121,989$519,800$258 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger
Verona, WI 53593 82%231$135,023$483,700$266 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($114K more) · less walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55124 82%214$97,727$370,400$189 larger · older homes
Chaska, MN 55318 82%217$112,243$420,400$211 pricier homes ($51K more) · less walkable

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.