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 Reinbeck, IA 50669

Reinbeck: median income $81,650, home value $183,000, $87/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stanton, NE 68779 97%238$78,594$203,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Remington, IN 47977 94%301$80,000$167,100$87 Very close on everything we compare
Osceola, NE 68651 94%267$78,487$191,300$99 smaller
Fulda, MN 56131 93%186$73,063$180,100$99 Very close on everything we compare
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 93%304$74,583$154,100$104 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Moweaqua, IL 62550 93%263$73,634$149,600$105 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Port Edwards, WI 54469 92%197$74,038$153,400$108 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Cissna Park, IL 60924 92%272$78,250$154,900$94 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Aledo, IL 61231 92%123$70,991$147,600$93 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Halstead, KS 67056 92%395$78,958$169,200$111 newer homes
Randolph, NE 68771 92%243$83,580$162,500— smaller
Akron, CO 80720 92%571$65,913$219,100$96 pricier homes ($36K more)
Shullsburg, WI 53586 91%122$70,806$166,100$106 5 min longer commute
Winnebago, MN 56098 91%128$69,000$147,900$103 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Tyler, MN 56178 91%224$87,031$165,400$125 Very close on everything we compare
Dawson, MN 56232 91%250$75,069$172,300$92 6 min shorter commute
Freeman, SD 57029 91%257$73,750$179,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Parkston, SD 57366 91%282$78,155$184,600$104 newer homes
Granville, IL 61326 91%188$70,880$148,100$117 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Roanoke, IL 61561 91%204$86,071$150,800$107 cheaper homes ($32K less)
El Paso, IL 61738 91%215$84,926$175,700$98 larger
Oakley, KS 67748 91%486$78,083$137,100— cheaper homes ($46K less)
Dorchester, NE 68343 91%260$74,554$173,400$99 smaller
Panhandle, TX 79068 91%674$86,264$165,300$120 Very close on everything we compare
Republic, OH 44867 90%500$72,716$167,000$96 Very close on everything we compare

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.