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.

Reset

Towns most like Melbourne, IA 50162

Melbourne: median income $71,417, home value $176,600, $135/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stratton, CO 80836 96%530$65,208$217,800$131 pricier homes ($41K more)
Arnold, NE 69120 95%366$69,886$158,200— Very close on everything we compare
Dakota, IL 61018 94%184$76,471$157,800— Very close on everything we compare
East Bethany, NY 14054 93%765$79,286$172,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
Livingston, WI 53554 93%151$74,063$175,000$124 more homeowners
Ponca, NE 68770 92%191$71,607$199,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 92%647$68,750$158,100— Very close on everything we compare
Otis, CO 80743 92%527$67,734$226,300$154 pricier homes ($50K more)
Republic, OH 44867 91%523$72,716$167,000$96 larger
Blair, WI 54616 91%188$72,222$180,900$146 larger
Forreston, IL 61030 91%180$71,655$157,200$130 larger · more homeowners
Lyndon, KS 66451 91%266$76,908$158,500$123 more homeowners
Malinta, OH 43535 90%469$67,083$172,100$141 more homeowners
Paris, OH 44669 90%623$82,411$202,100$153 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 90%474$77,083$208,700$140 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Farmland, IN 47340 90%432$63,205$175,200$139 larger
Mooreland, IN 47360 90%430$76,250$187,200$167 more homeowners
Monroe City, IN 47557 90%379$84,375$151,600$126 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Sunfield, MI 48890 90%418$79,444$175,800$144 larger
Shullsburg, WI 53586 90%153$70,806$166,100$106 larger
Cambria, WI 53923 90%231$72,500$220,700$184 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068 90%136$74,250$191,800$116 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, MN 56282 90%239$69,896$201,400$110 7 min shorter commute
Fleming, CO 80728 90%515$67,863$225,000$126 pricier homes ($48K more)
Smithton, PA 15479 89%706$63,852$202,700$204 pricier homes ($26K 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.