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 Van Meter, IA 50261

Van Meter: median income $155,278, home value $374,100, $294/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Prairie, WI 53153 95%300$152,543$430,100$271 pricier homes ($56K more)
Mantorville, MN 55955 92%189$132,524$405,700$240 pricier homes ($32K more)
Seaford, VA 23696 90%979$142,788$427,100$227 pricier homes ($53K more)
Durham, CT 06422 89%1,097$158,857$424,800$267 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · older residents
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 88%498$134,115$339,900$207 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Ostrander, OH 43061 88%566$157,568$400,300$229 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hinckley, OH 44233 88%631$136,915$443,500$263 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Southampton, MA 01073 87%1,090$123,125$452,300$303 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
White Marsh, MD 21162 87%930$157,813$451,600$216 pricier homes ($78K more) · 6 min longer commute
Berkley, MA 02779 85%1,176$144,205$511,200$328 pricier homes ($137K more) · larger
Monroeville, NJ 08343 85%991$141,842$344,400$221 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min longer commute
Modena, NY 12548 85%1,022$132,083$428,800— pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Clancy, MT 59634 85%960$129,891$553,900$264 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($180K more) · larger
Malcolm, NE 68402 85%158$123,000$449,000$241 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Roca, NE 68430 85%152$145,729$468,900$233 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Litchfield, NH 03052 84%1,151$162,036$485,000$337 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Bolton, CT 06043 84%1,107$126,364$367,600$257 lower income ($29K less) · older homes
Alto, MI 49302 84%445$134,722$400,700$216 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Oronoco, MN 55960 84%199$130,227$481,200$214 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($107K more)
West Greenwich, RI 02817 83%1,149$135,625$535,400$274 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger
Burlington, CT 06013 83%1,081$165,120$418,700$252 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
East Granby, CT 06026 83%1,090$119,375$388,000$233 lower income ($36K less) · larger
West Suffield, CT 06093 83%1,090$122,041$393,800$254 lower income ($33K less)
Averill Park, NY 12018 83%1,046$126,620$345,200$235 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Pequea, PA 17565 83%927$125,313$340,100$247 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($34K less) · 7 min longer commute

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.