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 Gowrie, IA 50543

Gowrie: median income $91,563, home value $155,100, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fredericktown, PA 15333 95%760$89,333$185,600$112 pricier homes ($31K more)
Clarksville, PA 15322 94%758$87,635$111,500$100 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Milton, IN 47357 94%507$99,028$155,800$92 Very close on everything we compare
Sheffield, IL 61361 94%244$91,250$147,200$88 Very close on everything we compare
Amboy, MN 56010 93%112$80,156$167,900$111 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Mound, IL 62513 92%324$83,125$142,900$82 Very close on everything we compare
Elmwood, IL 61529 91%249$91,661$164,800$111 larger
Colfax, IL 61728 91%317$97,159$155,200$100 Very close on everything we compare
Canistota, SD 57012 90%176$94,375$180,200$199 pricier homes ($25K more)
Elizabeth, IL 61028 90%210$86,053$174,400$118 older residents
Wyoming, NY 14591 89%825$85,804$163,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
Ladoga, IN 47954 89%423$81,364$188,200$140 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Atlanta, IL 61723 89%298$85,230$150,800$113 newer homes
Berlin, NY 12022 88%1,064$96,875$208,100$221 pricier homes ($53K more)
Cherry Valley, NY 13320 88%994$86,204$184,600$126 pricier homes ($30K more)
Basom, NY 14013 88%809$72,768$160,200$149 Very close on everything we compare
Byron, NY 14422 88%825$91,786$169,500$180 6 min shorter commute
Ellendale, MN 56026 88%121$100,169$232,700$181 pricier homes ($78K more)
Mc Lean, IL 61754 88%298$98,681$162,500$110 newer homes
Pretty Prairie, KS 67570 88%367$81,000$163,400$67 newer homes
Cedar Bluffs, NE 68015 88%132$85,357$176,600$119 6 min shorter commute
Randolph, NE 68771 88%156$83,580$162,500— 7 min shorter commute
Stafford, NY 14143 87%824$95,893$181,900$159 pricier homes ($27K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Royal Center, IN 46978 87%414$78,750$130,000$119 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Armour, SD 57313 87%217$89,107$117,300— cheaper homes ($38K less) · 7 min shorter commute

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.