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 Hampton, IA 50441

Hampton: median income $49,910, home value $127,100, $102/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chisholm, MN 55719 97%329$53,647$123,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Morris, IL 61054 96%199$47,467$121,400$103 smaller
Watseka, IL 60970 95%313$46,688$119,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Raton, NM 87740 95%719$52,815$153,100$114 pricier homes ($26K more)
Ridgway, PA 15853 92%748$59,344$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Bellaire, OH 43906 92%671$46,380$113,900$83 Very close on everything we compare
Menominee, MI 49858 92%323$53,186$134,400$131 larger
Pittsfield, IL 62363 92%250$58,500$118,000$86 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, MO 64628 92%204$59,361$123,500$110 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, NE 68352 92%273$55,370$132,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Pawhuska, OK 74056 92%449$47,311$131,000$106 younger residents
Hamilton, TX 76531 92%810$49,100$126,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Emporium, PA 15834 91%770$50,609$87,400$89 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Sharpsville, PA 16150 91%662$56,334$148,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Titusville, PA 16354 91%696$48,963$102,500$83 larger · 5 min longer commute
Nitro, WV 25143 91%667$53,205$128,600$108 larger · 5 min longer commute
Antigo, WI 54409 91%261$53,576$123,300$133 larger
Hibbing, MN 55746 91%323$55,823$134,600$116 larger
Pana, IL 62557 91%315$51,389$88,900$91 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 90%757$52,500$102,500$92 younger residents
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 90%760$50,610$121,000$105 newer homes
East Palestine, OH 44413 90%665$50,999$122,600$119 5 min longer commute
Bessemer, MI 49911 90%301$57,000$106,300$87 smaller
Ironwood, MI 49938 90%298$46,606$104,000$106 Very close on everything we compare
Hurley, WI 54534 90%296$53,468$123,600$121 smaller

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.