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 Leon, IA 50144

Leon: median income $63,333, home value $130,800, $108/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Graysville, AL 35073 93%614$54,886$117,100$103 Very close on everything we compare
Shinnston, WV 26431 92%717$61,023$149,900$120 larger
Dyer, TN 38330 92%411$60,688$136,300$105 Very close on everything we compare
Sandusky, MI 48471 92%588$62,844$142,700$110 larger
Dupo, IL 62239 92%243$61,191$111,400$123 larger
Whitehall, NY 12887 91%1,058$56,709$123,400$97 larger
Edgerton, OH 43517 91%471$58,578$136,500$134 more homeowners
Union City, MI 49094 91%455$65,404$143,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, WI 54747 91%278$70,820$192,600$99 pricier homes ($62K more)
Caney, KS 67333 91%282$63,103$161,200$97 pricier homes ($30K more) · more homeowners
Little Valley, NY 14755 90%779$66,103$126,700$129 more homeowners
Bentleyville, PA 15314 90%723$59,356$166,300$134 pricier homes ($36K more)
Sligo, PA 16255 90%744$56,058$119,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Lindale, GA 30147 90%652$61,351$148,600$130 larger
Flushing, OH 43977 90%667$57,216$126,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
La Plata, MO 63549 90%82$59,881$135,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Nowata, OK 74048 90%297$52,888$132,800$103 larger
Childress, TX 79201 90%563$58,438$124,600$128 larger
Nunda, NY 14517 89%826$56,088$150,000$112 older homes
Dawson, PA 15428 89%742$70,368$123,200$135 smaller · more homeowners
Port Allegany, PA 16743 89%805$54,083$120,600$107 larger · more homeowners
Olanta, SC 29114 89%892$56,579$116,000$86 smaller
Greenfield, OH 45123 89%556$62,404$161,700$106 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Montpelier, IN 47359 89%445$71,607$121,900$112 more homeowners
Oakland City, IN 47660 89%379$57,472$146,300$107 larger · older residents

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.