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 Dayton, IA 50530

Dayton: median income $73,250, home value $167,900, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dakota, IL 61018 95%231$76,471$157,800— Very close on everything we compare
Winnebago, MN 56098 94%105$69,000$147,900$103 larger
Granville, IL 61326 94%259$70,880$148,100$117 larger
Emerson, NE 68733 94%136$64,479$132,600— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Ponca, NE 68770 94%137$71,607$199,400$143 pricier homes ($32K more)
Ravenna, NE 68869 94%264$65,208$169,400$79 larger
Alcester, SD 57001 93%141$69,531$177,400$166 Very close on everything we compare
Woodhull, IL 61490 92%208$65,625$158,000$68 older residents
Dorchester, NE 68343 92%193$74,554$173,400$99 Very close on everything we compare
Darlington, IN 47940 91%407$70,711$152,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Port Edwards, WI 54469 91%256$74,038$153,400$108 larger
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 91%275$74,583$154,100$104 larger
Alma, KS 66401 91%253$73,516$220,900$176 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Fonda, NY 12068 90%999$72,788$170,100$190 larger
Mc Graw, NY 13101 90%916$63,587$143,700$112 larger
Appleton, NY 14008 90%784$77,702$188,700$184 older homes
Russellville, OH 45168 90%589$74,167$173,100$177 larger · newer homes
Sherburn, MN 56171 90%103$72,554$169,800$122 more homeowners
Kerkhoven, MN 56252 90%213$82,571$207,100$128 pricier homes ($39K more) · newer homes
Morgan, MN 56266 90%154$74,000$143,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Prophetstown, IL 61277 90%216$70,363$148,200$116 larger
Wenona, IL 61377 90%272$57,321$139,500$86 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Minonk, IL 61760 90%276$75,362$120,600$107 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Fleming, CO 80728 90%469$67,863$225,000$126 pricier homes ($57K more)
Herminie, PA 15637 89%757$70,461$220,600$159 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger

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.