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 Manson, IA 50563

Manson: median income $71,094, home value $161,100, $335/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakes, ND 58474 93%307$72,969$160,700$342 6 min shorter commute
Arnold, NE 69120 90%298$69,886$158,200— smaller
Edgemont, SD 57735 89%472$71,576$165,600— Very close on everything we compare
Cherokee, OK 73728 89%448$67,417$118,600— cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Bridgeport, NY 13030 88%939$68,306$206,400$250 pricier homes ($45K more)
New Alexandria, PA 15670 88%795$79,345$195,400$301 pricier homes ($34K more)
Kersey, PA 15846 88%821$70,662$165,700— newer homes
Pine Level, NC 27568 88%997$66,071$230,800— pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Frankfort, KS 66427 88%219$79,481$133,600— cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Meade, KS 67864 88%475$75,929$135,700— cheaper homes ($25K less)
Sweetser, IN 46987 87%473$80,893$152,500— smaller
Burwell, NE 68823 87%239$61,974$174,100— older residents
Cambridge, NE 69022 87%331$64,719$152,400— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Laverne, OK 73848 87%493$57,619$124,200— cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Coal Center, PA 15423 86%777$77,857$185,900$215 Very close on everything we compare
Volant, PA 16156 86%741$69,054$221,400— pricier homes ($60K more)
Estelline, SD 57234 86%186$82,358$173,000$373 smaller
Oakley, KS 67748 86%406$78,083$137,100— 7 min shorter commute
Tilden, NE 68781 86%171$67,212$171,700— smaller · older residents
Alma, NE 68920 86%301$80,938$166,700— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Mayville, NY 14757 85%767$67,115$186,700$215 pricier homes ($26K more)
Ailey, GA 30410 85%971$68,036$125,000— cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · newer homes
Sterling, KS 67579 85%355$65,294$158,000— younger residents
Ord, NE 68862 85%235$60,321$163,100— 8 min shorter commute
Wolcott, VT 05680 84%1,110$72,917$227,700$267 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes

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.