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.

Reset

Towns most like Allison, IA 50602

Allison: median income $67,188, home value $118,100, $108/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, MN 55332 94%156$62,361$144,300$92 pricier homes ($26K more)
Winnebago, MN 56098 94%99$69,000$147,900$103 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Fairfax, MO 64446 94%215$56,949$101,800— Very close on everything we compare
Emerson, NE 68733 94%203$64,479$132,600— Very close on everything we compare
Gibbon, MN 55335 92%152$62,206$149,300$98 pricier homes ($31K more)
Howard, SD 57349 92%255$75,179$153,000$130 pricier homes ($35K more)
Stockton, IL 61085 92%143$59,798$131,300$111 larger
La Moille, IL 61330 92%198$69,005$147,600$115 pricier homes ($30K more)
Toluca, IL 61369 92%223$68,708$120,400$106 6 min longer commute
Wyanet, IL 61379 92%190$63,750$103,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Hay Springs, NE 69347 92%502$76,133$116,300— Very close on everything we compare
Kentland, IN 47951 91%307$66,156$115,600$107 larger
Appleton, MN 56208 91%232$59,766$102,800$114 larger
Twin Valley, MN 56584 91%353$69,625$131,600$85 Very close on everything we compare
Beach, ND 58621 91%619$67,000$124,800$69 Very close on everything we compare
Alpha, IL 61413 91%164$73,125$120,100$104 more homeowners
Minonk, IL 61760 91%232$75,362$120,600$107 larger
Kincaid, IL 62540 91%281$70,179$89,400$106 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Waverly, IL 62692 91%264$66,143$123,100$85 larger
Dorchester, NE 68343 91%266$74,554$173,400$99 pricier homes ($55K more)
Stoystown, PA 15563 90%738$62,411$139,600$128 larger
Mount Savage, MD 21545 90%752$60,264$130,700$111 younger residents
Lakemore, OH 44250 90%596$66,328$128,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Brook, IN 47922 90%309$61,033$125,500$111 younger residents
Wakefield, MI 49968 90%292$55,759$91,800$97 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 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.