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 Dike, IA 50624

Dike: median income $96,713, home value $260,100, $156/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Holland Patent, NY 13354 92%879$101,733$241,900$158 larger
Battle Ground, IN 47920 91%328$90,441$276,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Chatfield, MN 55923 91%97$96,328$293,000$147 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Glyndon, MN 56547 91%361$102,500$304,300$162 pricier homes ($44K more)
Auburn, KS 66402 91%298$88,427$260,900$154 larger
Louisville, NE 68037 91%211$107,839$245,800$167 6 min longer commute
Wilson, TX 79381 90%802$97,625$228,300$179 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Perkinsville, VT 05151 89%1,017$96,836$265,600$261 Very close on everything we compare
Cadyville, NY 12918 89%958$91,951$206,700$146 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Winfield, PA 17889 89%818$89,063$288,900$188 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Sabin, MN 56580 89%356$107,813$282,200$165 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson, SD 57038 89%202$106,250$332,300$185 pricier homes ($72K more)
Thompson, ND 58278 89%427$111,250$313,400$209 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents
Brimfield, IL 61517 89%180$99,886$275,000$138 larger · older residents
Gower, MO 64454 89%224$87,262$260,800$151 larger · 7 min longer commute
Silver Lake, KS 66539 89%288$87,554$230,600$138 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Genesee, ID 83832 89%1,226$91,250$352,800$219 pricier homes ($93K more)
Bradford, VT 05033 88%1,033$105,250$255,600$164 larger
Wallingford, VT 05773 88%992$80,726$261,700$155 Very close on everything we compare
Cranesville, PA 16410 88%630$83,977$201,800$160 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Brownstown, PA 17508 88%865$104,597$347,800$131 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Dalton, PA 18414 88%869$93,065$288,500$194 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Fall Creek, WI 54742 88%172$102,083$282,100$189 larger
Courtland, MN 56021 88%152$96,563$276,800$140 smaller
Kasota, MN 56050 88%142$90,000$342,700$211 pricier homes ($83K more)

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.