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 Virginia, IA 50210

New Virginia: median income $87,813, home value $324,600, $108/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bainbridge, IN 46105 93%375$87,736$248,500$142 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Dubois, IN 47527 92%412$91,169$273,700$92 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Swanville, MN 56382 90%332$76,125$277,800$133 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 5 min shorter commute
New Douglas, IL 62074 90%259$79,808$261,400$90 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 90%215$87,431$283,100— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Orlinda, TN 37141 89%491$76,250$237,000$117 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Gaines, MI 48436 89%517$94,487$276,000$131 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Henderson, MN 56044 89%232$101,250$333,600$143 larger
Kingsley, PA 18826 88%927$88,958$267,800$150 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 88%598$78,824$222,900$128 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Wanatah, IN 46390 88%354$87,639$228,000$130 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Deer Park, WI 54007 88%283$85,398$309,400— 8 min shorter commute
Wilton, ND 58579 88%542$93,750$281,500$127 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Petersburg, PA 16669 87%820$78,977$215,500$113 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Warfordsburg, PA 17267 87%819$77,788$251,000$160 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Thornton, WV 26440 87%737$92,824$216,800— cheaper homes ($108K less)
Jerusalem, OH 43747 87%668$77,115$218,800$87 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Burtrum, MN 56318 87%329$84,297$272,200$168 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Windthorst, TX 76389 87%586$98,750$229,200$122 cheaper homes ($95K less) · newer homes
Perrinton, MI 48871 86%482$84,803$230,600$169 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Genoa, WI 54632 86%210$82,500$236,100— cheaper homes ($89K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Rothsay, MN 56579 86%390$89,583$235,500$119 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Liberty, IL 62347 86%164$93,810$225,900$103 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Elkland, MO 65644 86%262$71,527$249,100$148 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Fairfield, WA 99012 86%1,233$88,571$333,700$100 older homes

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.