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 Denver, IA 50622

Denver: median income $95,089, home value $254,100, $144/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Teutopolis, IL 62467 94%317$96,406$232,800$128 Very close on everything we compare
Tremont, IL 61568 91%210$100,972$239,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Colwich, KS 67030 91%435$100,192$284,800$138 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Holland Patent, NY 13354 90%863$101,733$241,900$158 Very close on everything we compare
Tecumseh, KS 66542 90%303$108,218$234,700$151 older residents
Clearwater, KS 67026 90%449$106,036$239,600$129 larger
Minster, OH 45865 89%441$89,000$286,300$177 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Heyworth, IL 61745 89%238$107,835$228,400$138 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Wilson, TX 79381 89%822$97,625$228,300$179 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
La Fayette, NY 13084 88%822$91,389$227,200$157 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Atlantic Mine, MI 49905 88%355$77,617$211,300$122 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Le Roy, IL 61752 88%245$87,591$178,100$135 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Juniata, NE 68955 88%350$90,850$266,400$151 smaller · newer homes
Brownstown, PA 17508 87%853$104,597$347,800$131 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller
Chatfield, MN 55923 87%81$96,328$293,000$147 pricier homes ($39K more)
Hillsboro, ND 58045 87%399$86,484$211,800$163 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Congerville, IL 61729 87%215$101,172$259,100— smaller
Auburn, KS 66402 87%317$88,427$260,900$154 older residents
Lindsborg, KS 67456 87%398$82,409$205,500$102 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Louisville, NE 68037 87%230$107,839$245,800$167 8 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68157 87%214$98,015$239,000$153 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, NE 68818 87%318$81,045$263,900$123 larger
Cadyville, NY 12918 86%941$91,951$206,700$146 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Warners, NY 13164 86%812$84,808$256,200$231 newer homes
Apalachin, NY 13732 86%826$88,750$192,900$145 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 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.