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 Cedar Falls, IA 50613

Cedar Falls: median income $78,503, home value $270,800, $159/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eau Claire, WI 54701 90%163$74,361$289,900$184 older residents
Rochester, MN 55904 88%103$77,016$253,600$186 older residents
Kearney, NE 68845 88%366$76,978$282,000$147 smaller
Pocatello, ID 83201 86%1,013$66,357$287,200$179 Very close on everything we compare
Hays, KS 67601 85%440$61,417$227,300$133 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Laramie, WY 82070 85%689$69,095$338,500$216 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Lewisburg, PA 17837 84%807$88,975$288,100$170 smaller · older residents
Holland, MI 49423 84%322$81,858$278,000$233 Very close on everything we compare
Marquette, MI 49855 84%373$62,083$263,300$224 older residents
Eau Claire, WI 54703 84%166$71,518$243,700$178 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Northfield, MN 55057 84%138$92,622$363,600$193 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Rochester, MN 55901 84%105$94,607$317,000$177 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Moorhead, MN 56560 84%367$75,406$253,200$155 more walkable
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 84%391$66,654$219,800$135 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Kalamazoo, MI 49008 83%349$74,943$218,200$163 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older homes
Portage, MI 49024 83%349$91,105$267,400$165 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Duluth, MN 55811 83%297$79,804$321,000$228 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Mankato, MN 56001 83%137$69,531$276,700$158 Very close on everything we compare
Brookings, SD 57006 83%250$66,337$273,900$155 smaller · more renters
Minot, ND 58703 83%587$82,728$263,200$143 smaller
Beaumont, TX 77706 83%864$73,185$244,800$124 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Cheyenne, WY 82001 83%642$75,362$316,500$189 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37415 82%640$70,972$285,000$216 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39211 82%713$69,426$221,600$110 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Lexington, KY 40503 82%521$76,482$296,800$212 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · older residents

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.