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 Clear Lake, IA 50428

Clear Lake: median income $81,037, home value $283,400, $232/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake City, MN 55041 97%105$78,672$275,200$221 Very close on everything we compare
Feeding Hills, MA 01030 93%1,053$93,815$327,700$248 pricier homes ($44K more)
Boyne City, MI 49712 92%438$74,033$294,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
La Grange, TX 78945 92%935$75,446$340,300$168 pricier homes ($57K more)
Swanzey, NH 03446 91%1,062$85,484$262,100$228 6 min longer commute
Newport, NH 03773 91%1,064$81,232$239,300$213 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lewiston, NY 14092 91%723$72,218$279,900$199 Very close on everything we compare
Centre Hall, PA 16828 91%821$76,468$273,800$192 smaller
Plymouth, WI 53073 91%274$76,442$258,900$194 larger
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 91%321$70,212$297,300$257 larger
Randolph, VT 05060 90%1,036$77,317$255,500$200 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Valdese, NC 28690 90%810$67,000$211,300$219 cheaper homes ($72K less)
South Haven, MI 49090 90%365$68,920$295,000$293 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 90%230$82,783$245,900$201 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Montesano, WA 98563 90%1,484$84,634$349,200$230 pricier homes ($66K more)
Castleton On Hudson, NY 12033 89%996$98,569$288,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Montoursville, PA 17754 89%852$72,633$249,300$156 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Ludington, MI 49431 89%352$66,336$237,700$203 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 89%282$73,703$241,900$193 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Spring Green, WI 53588 89%167$83,417$292,300$232 smaller
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 89%283$70,644$241,200$176 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Glenwood, MN 56334 89%199$69,525$279,900$191 smaller
Agawam, MA 01001 88%1,056$75,342$295,700$249 larger
Waterford, NY 12188 88%993$92,279$281,400$228 Very close on everything we compare
Henrietta, NY 14467 88%795$88,653$225,100$201 cheaper homes ($58K 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.