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 West Bend, IA 50597

West Bend: median income $92,000, home value $179,700, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, SD 57311 93%173$103,839$186,800$188 Very close on everything we compare
New Berlin, PA 17855 92%908$88,929$216,700$151 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Adrian, MN 56110 92%87$77,875$176,400$103 Very close on everything we compare
Cottonwood, MN 56229 91%129$104,375$205,600$103 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hancock, MN 56244 91%188$85,417$162,100$112 Very close on everything we compare
Minier, IL 61759 91%317$91,591$161,700$114 Very close on everything we compare
Hershey, NE 69143 91%358$90,625$197,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Deansboro, NY 13328 90%959$105,000$204,000$166 5 min longer commute
Stryker, OH 43557 90%524$84,950$158,900$104 larger
Minneota, MN 56264 90%134$81,071$189,600$81 larger
Forrest, IL 61741 90%346$87,850$167,700$99 6 min longer commute
Humphrey, NE 68642 90%179$93,798$266,400$191 pricier homes ($87K more)
Hampton, NE 68843 90%225$92,778$250,000$140 pricier homes ($70K more)
Alma, NE 68920 90%321$80,938$166,700— older residents
Freeman, SD 57029 89%154$73,750$179,700$107 larger
Galva, KS 67443 89%355$88,938$220,600$137 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · newer homes
Utica, NE 68456 89%204$89,550$202,900$137 more renters
Osceola, NE 68651 89%200$78,487$191,300$99 more renters
Minatare, NE 69356 89%467$73,787$189,500$75 larger
Durhamville, NY 13054 88%946$94,100$227,500$96 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Memphis, NY 13112 88%910$96,615$195,400$160 larger · 7 min longer commute
Oriskany, NY 13424 88%963$84,844$208,200$163 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Cleveland, WI 53015 88%342$88,810$222,200$164 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Pennock, MN 56279 88%154$84,000$231,700$176 pricier homes ($52K more) · newer homes
Roanoke, IL 61561 88%308$86,071$150,800$107 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min longer 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.