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 Mason City, IA 50401

Mason City: median income $66,072, home value $146,500, $123/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cumberland, MD 21502 91%782$60,725$153,700$113 7 min longer commute
Salina, KS 67401 91%378$64,606$180,200$115 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Toledo, OH 43613 90%499$64,384$136,200$132 younger residents
Sandusky, OH 44870 90%549$62,082$163,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Niagara Falls, NY 14304 88%717$66,660$164,000$174 5 min longer commute
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 88%1,091$57,742$184,700$143 pricier homes ($38K more)
Rome, NY 13440 87%892$68,207$169,100$157 5 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14606 87%781$55,807$158,400$160 5 min longer commute
Altoona, PA 16602 87%783$55,046$125,700$93 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43611 87%505$62,042$132,000$145 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44144 87%597$60,223$149,900$161 7 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40213 86%521$55,897$173,600$169 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Cleveland, OH 44125 86%602$57,363$116,500$127 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 8 min longer commute
Superior, WI 54880 86%251$68,275$190,700$170 pricier homes ($44K more)
Pekin, IL 61554 86%256$65,194$127,600$107 8 min longer commute
Erie, PA 16504 85%671$56,622$116,400$125 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 85%435$53,359$140,800$135 younger residents
Lansing, MI 48906 85%437$64,315$139,700$132 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Moline, IL 61265 85%179$66,933$147,000$131 larger · less walkable
Beatrice, NE 68310 85%270$60,928$168,000$118 smaller · less walkable
North Platte, NE 69101 85%412$62,268$188,700$149 pricier homes ($42K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Canton, OH 44708 84%625$63,706$171,700$149 pricier homes ($25K more) · less walkable
Dayton, OH 45420 84%526$60,588$131,300$153 younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Vincennes, IN 47591 84%429$61,803$157,400$106 less walkable
Quincy, IL 62301 84%241$52,055$135,100$111 less walkable

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.