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 Pella, IA 50219

Pella: median income $86,807, home value $301,400, $239/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lander, WY 82520 94%808$76,959$337,700$236 pricier homes ($36K more)
Fairbanks, AK 99709 93%2,665$86,294$304,800$213 larger
Lewisburg, PA 17837 92%832$88,975$288,100$170 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgewater, VA 22812 92%766$85,941$366,900$206 pricier homes ($66K more)
Lexington, VA 24450 92%758$76,587$305,100$225 5 min longer commute
Mankato, MN 56003 92%203$82,538$270,400$162 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Duluth, MN 55811 91%375$79,804$321,000$228 larger
Birmingham, AL 35210 89%642$73,061$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min longer commute
Portage, MI 49002 89%382$73,647$246,400$174 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Holland, MI 49423 88%361$81,858$278,000$233 larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 88%390$94,037$321,100$228 larger
Saint Peter, MN 56082 88%209$71,456$275,200$169 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Port Washington, WI 53074 87%291$79,423$296,600$233 5 min longer commute
Neenah, WI 54956 87%295$85,869$256,900$191 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Rochester, MN 55904 87%182$77,016$253,600$186 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Pierre, SD 57501 87%427$81,791$245,100$152 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Beaufort, SC 29902 86%916$69,752$349,100$266 pricier homes ($48K more)
Portage, MI 49024 86%380$91,105$267,400$165 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Stevensville, MI 49127 86%333$93,338$296,900$193 older residents
Petoskey, MI 49770 86%485$79,590$355,200$275 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Appleton, WI 54915 86%303$87,426$269,700$187 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68138 86%168$86,007$237,200$189 cheaper homes ($64K less) · newer homes
Idaho Falls, ID 83404 86%982$82,103$394,300$164 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Henniker, NH 03242 85%1,082$95,206$356,700$258 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · younger residents
Latham, NY 12110 85%985$105,024$340,100$264 pricier homes ($39K more)

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.