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 Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

Pleasant Hill: median income $98,333, home value $314,400, $215/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Holmen, WI 54636 95%201$96,384$321,500$182 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Dallas, TX 75065 93%615$102,597$334,400$194 6 min longer commute
Camden Wyoming, DE 19934 92%958$87,125$336,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Flat Rock, MI 48134 92%528$92,076$276,100$183 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Deforest, WI 53532 92%242$110,022$371,600$227 pricier homes ($57K more)
Raymore, MO 64083 92%198$101,667$337,400$189 larger
Absecon, NJ 08205 91%1,010$93,370$292,400$208 larger · older homes
Fletcher, NC 28732 91%730$81,852$376,700$233 pricier homes ($62K more)
Melbourne, FL 32904 91%1,182$90,673$366,300$208 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Walton, KY 41094 91%504$96,515$293,700$185 younger residents
New Richmond, WI 54017 91%249$98,571$321,700$211 larger
West Salem, WI 54669 91%202$103,194$312,300$168 smaller
Circle Pines, MN 55014 91%247$103,658$337,400$202 larger · older homes
North Aurora, IL 60542 91%268$114,831$342,400$217 pricier homes ($28K more)
Medical Lake, WA 99022 91%1,254$93,812$389,700$245 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · older homes
Dillsburg, PA 17019 90%867$94,423$299,300$196 older homes
Forest, VA 24551 90%813$91,067$362,500$187 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Swansboro, NC 28584 90%1,007$87,414$339,200$221 older residents
Alachua, FL 32615 90%1,021$85,701$297,200$172 Very close on everything we compare
Blacklick, OH 43004 90%570$101,175$335,400$195 larger
Holland, OH 43528 90%506$93,986$276,100$165 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 90%296$105,868$375,600$234 pricier homes ($61K more)
Brookline, MO 65619 90%305$85,024$244,500$179 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 89%1,003$98,217$313,200$232 larger
North East, MD 21901 89%930$113,719$367,400$210 pricier homes ($53K more) · 5 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.