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 Milo, IA 50166

Milo: median income $107,279, home value $252,900, $135/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ida, MI 48140 94%511$109,257$288,400$151 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Gaines, MI 48436 94%502$94,487$276,000$131 larger
Laura, OH 45337 92%483$108,162$228,700$155 6 min shorter commute
Dansville, MI 48819 92%478$110,833$254,500$156 older residents
Kingston, IL 60145 92%248$108,477$268,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Bowlus, MN 56314 91%316$95,972$262,800$175 Very close on everything we compare
Buskirk, NY 12028 90%1,029$96,891$247,700— Very close on everything we compare
Bainbridge, IN 46105 90%364$87,736$248,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Wanatah, IN 46390 90%341$87,639$228,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Grant Park, IL 60940 90%301$97,361$271,900$163 larger
Danvers, IL 61732 90%228$107,941$224,400$129 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Metamora, OH 43540 89%493$119,583$259,300$167 5 min shorter commute
Corunna, IN 46730 88%431$116,181$316,500— pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Bunker Hill, IL 62014 88%241$93,233$204,400$128 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 87%585$78,824$222,900$128 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($30K less)
Mount Sterling, OH 43143 87%545$100,333$242,800$179 larger
Kouts, IN 46347 87%333$95,348$255,400$173 larger
Henderson, MN 56044 87%226$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($81K more)
Windthorst, TX 76389 87%599$98,750$229,200$122 newer homes
Thornton, WV 26440 86%725$92,824$216,800— cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · newer homes
Diamond, OH 44412 86%644$102,726$282,300$168 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Holdingford, MN 56340 86%311$96,250$294,900$188 pricier homes ($42K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Sprakers, NY 12166 85%978$94,821$219,400$142 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Cable, OH 43009 85%518$102,841$258,300$156 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Black Creek, WI 54106 85%335$97,500$277,800$199 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.