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 Urbandale, IA 50323

Urbandale: median income $175,944, home value $486,800, $244/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shawnee, KS 66226 91%186$173,667$416,200$188 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Lake Elmo, MN 55042 90%237$154,341$602,100$236 pricier homes ($115K more)
Stilwell, KS 66085 89%202$152,500$538,300$241 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · older residents
Shawnee, KS 66218 89%186$168,878$436,600$207 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Avondale, PA 19311 88%949$155,771$540,800$197 pricier homes ($54K more) · 5 min longer commute
Lenexa, KS 66227 88%192$139,883$478,200$231 lower income ($36K less) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78255 88%871$157,428$531,400$212 pricier homes ($45K more) · 7 min longer commute
Elkhorn, NE 68022 87%130$148,111$462,800$195 lower income ($28K less) · larger · more renters
Westerville, OH 43082 86%577$147,972$458,200$214 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Gambrills, MD 21054 85%916$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($124K more) · 7 min longer commute
Apex, NC 27539 85%901$145,947$565,600$237 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($79K more) · 8 min longer commute
Davidson, NC 28036 85%818$156,496$630,900$313 pricier homes ($144K more) · 6 min longer commute
Zionsville, IN 46077 85%409$177,679$580,600$198 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Hamel, MN 55340 85%239$178,553$639,100$234 pricier homes ($152K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Rogers, MN 55374 85%245$144,714$462,000$193 lower income ($31K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lenexa, KS 66220 85%192$177,206$590,500$212 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller
Overland Park, KS 66221 85%197$190,000$711,300$208 pricier homes ($225K more)
Gretna, NE 68028 85%133$143,604$407,400$177 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less)
Castle Rock, CO 80109 85%605$155,025$675,500$224 pricier homes ($189K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Erie, CO 80516 85%600$168,725$726,700$241 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 84%547$136,188$570,200$296 lower income ($40K less) · pricier homes ($83K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lewis Center, OH 43035 84%571$154,683$456,400$210 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more renters
Plain City, OH 43064 84%559$139,591$461,900$230 lower income ($36K less) · 6 min longer commute
Avon, OH 44011 84%607$135,915$395,900$219 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($91K less)
Kansas City, MO 64157 84%167$149,526$386,400$198 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($100K 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.