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 New Sharon, IA 50207

New Sharon: median income $76,053, home value $156,300, $191/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakley, KS 67748 96%460$78,083$137,100— Very close on everything we compare
Alcester, SD 57001 91%228$69,531$177,400$166 smaller
Victoria, KS 67671 91%385$77,702$181,900$176 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · newer homes
Fonda, NY 12068 90%939$72,788$170,100$190 more homeowners
Union Springs, NY 13160 90%824$86,029$185,600$168 pricier homes ($29K more)
Wakefield, NE 68784 90%223$62,216$144,900$145 Very close on everything we compare
New Knoxville, OH 45871 88%442$87,500$211,700$204 pricier homes ($55K more)
Grant, NE 69140 88%472$70,417$160,800— 6 min shorter commute
Hemingford, NE 69348 88%537$76,719$133,600— smaller · more homeowners
Coulee Dam, WA 99116 88%1,358$65,946$238,900$165 pricier homes ($83K more)
Ellsworth, KS 67439 87%347$73,409$158,300— more walkable
Spearville, KS 67876 87%451$71,964$183,900$142 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Ponca, NE 68770 87%220$71,607$199,400$143 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Gordon, NE 69343 87%496$59,741$116,700— cheaper homes ($40K less)
Tupper Lake, NY 12986 86%939$67,883$158,900$164 larger · older residents
Meade, KS 67864 86%500$75,929$135,700— Very close on everything we compare
Albion, NE 68620 86%275$83,450$231,700$169 pricier homes ($75K more)
Wisner, NE 68791 86%221$69,018$165,300$137 younger residents
Ord, NE 68862 86%324$60,321$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Hildebran, NC 28637 85%726$67,500$197,900$185 pricier homes ($42K more) · newer homes
Pipestone, MN 56164 85%252$74,201$149,800$146 larger · more walkable
Woonsocket, SD 57385 85%334$70,404$126,900$152 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Scott City, KS 67871 85%481$68,339$160,500$160 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Arnold, NE 69120 85%387$69,886$158,200— smaller · 7 min longer commute
Cherokee, OK 73728 85%445$67,417$118,600— cheaper homes ($38K less)

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.