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 Saint Ansgar, IA 50472

Saint Ansgar: median income $93,482, home value $204,100, $112/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hershey, NE 69143 95%441$90,625$197,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Durhamville, NY 13054 94%866$94,100$227,500$96 smaller
Erie, IL 61250 94%188$84,688$167,700$95 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Fertile, MN 56540 93%328$83,646$194,800$125 Very close on everything we compare
Ipswich, SD 57451 93%332$86,000$195,700$122 Very close on everything we compare
Lucas, OH 44843 92%570$90,366$208,700$127 6 min longer commute
Arlington, OH 45814 92%505$91,115$207,000$160 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, MN 56178 92%171$87,031$165,400$125 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Pierce, NE 68767 92%248$81,761$233,500$138 pricier homes ($29K more)
Hampton, NE 68843 92%306$92,778$250,000$140 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Wood River, NE 68883 92%342$90,966$206,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, WI 53813 91%118$84,004$220,400$118 larger
Adrian, MN 56110 91%151$77,875$176,400$103 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Cottonwood, MN 56229 91%160$104,375$205,600$103 smaller
Princeville, IL 61559 91%236$101,200$183,800$107 older residents
Roanoke, IL 61561 91%262$86,071$150,800$107 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Oreana, IL 62554 91%319$95,625$152,600$122 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Arlington, NE 68002 91%220$93,220$299,700$130 pricier homes ($96K more)
Hartington, NE 68739 91%227$90,500$218,400$152 5 min shorter commute
Cedarville, NJ 08311 90%959$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($44K more)
New Berlin, PA 17855 90%834$88,929$216,700$151 smaller
Luckey, OH 43443 90%500$97,917$207,100$115 smaller · older homes
Stryker, OH 43557 90%454$84,950$158,900$104 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Sterling, OH 44276 90%593$86,583$231,300$152 pricier homes ($27K more)
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 90%27$85,114$232,500$146 pricier homes ($28K more)

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.