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 New Hampton, IA 50659

New Hampton: median income $78,153, home value $206,900, $122/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Windom, MN 56101 98%153$77,083$183,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Gothenburg, NE 69138 97%428$77,604$199,300$105 Very close on everything we compare
Luverne, MN 56156 96%201$71,066$232,300$133 pricier homes ($25K more)
Lancaster, WI 53813 95%82$84,004$220,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Tuscola, IL 61953 95%307$78,214$164,400$138 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Archbold, OH 43502 94%422$74,925$203,300$177 Very close on everything we compare
Parkston, SD 57366 94%286$78,155$184,600$104 smaller
Palmyra, MO 63461 94%229$69,707$212,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Sleepy Eye, MN 56085 93%147$73,000$167,100$106 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Montevideo, MN 56265 93%213$74,848$162,400$115 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Nebraska City, NE 68410 93%246$71,640$182,900$135 larger
West Point, NE 68788 93%240$69,867$211,700$115 Very close on everything we compare
Central City, NE 68826 93%321$74,583$172,100$116 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Kenova, WV 25530 92%606$70,508$162,100$112 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Versailles, OH 45380 92%448$84,135$235,300$139 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min longer commute
Blue Earth, MN 56013 92%98$71,553$176,900$103 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Pipestone, MN 56164 92%208$74,201$149,800$146 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Granite Falls, MN 56241 92%202$66,875$155,600$113 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Canton, SD 57013 92%216$76,458$226,000$131 6 min longer commute
Saint Joseph, MO 64505 92%261$73,298$191,100$132 larger
Hiawatha, KS 66434 92%283$76,613$143,400$126 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Albion, NE 68620 92%305$83,450$231,700$169 smaller
Burlington, CO 80807 92%578$76,583$251,900$123 pricier homes ($45K more)
Saint Marys, OH 45885 91%443$78,550$164,700$151 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
New Ulm, MN 56073 91%138$70,250$218,700$140 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.