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 Lamoni, IA 50140

Lamoni: median income $57,443, home value $121,900, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alfred Station, NY 14803 84%843$51,694$140,600— smaller · more homeowners
Potsdam, NY 13676 79%1,001$56,170$160,200$147 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Chadron, NE 69337 79%491$54,306$163,800— pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older homes
Hooker, OK 73945 79%472$48,839$155,600$79 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Canton, NY 13617 78%991$71,663$161,300$131 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Wagner, SD 57380 78%281$62,135$157,600$144 pricier homes ($36K more)
Mayville, ND 58257 78%504$60,395$196,200$242 pricier homes ($74K more)
Colby, KS 67701 77%386$70,250$177,300— pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Delhi, NY 13753 75%989$70,000$216,200$160 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Dover Foxcroft, ME 04426 74%1,285$63,491$164,800$162 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents
Macomb, IL 61455 74%171$48,679$120,100$70 larger
David City, NE 68632 74%172$70,242$176,400$143 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Goodwell, OK 73939 74%500$72,813$163,900— pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Houghton, NY 14744 73%822$77,750$159,600$169 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Chester, MT 59522 73%995$57,212$177,100$88 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · older residents
Alva, OK 73717 73%367$51,165$142,400$62 larger · more single-family homes · older homes
Hamilton, NY 13346 72%959$60,600$214,600$181 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · younger residents
Fruitland, MD 21826 72%988$64,946$223,100$183 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Ada, OH 45810 72%530$63,451$167,900$138 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Volga, SD 57071 72%298$77,138$246,000— pricier homes ($124K more)
Frontenac, KS 66763 72%223$58,733$165,600$123 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 72%530$59,590$165,800$133 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Clarion, PA 16214 71%760$57,521$171,600$107 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more renters
Newbern, TN 38059 71%402$62,281$150,300$147 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Kirksville, MO 63501 71%77$60,729$168,200$114 pricier homes ($46K more) · 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.