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 Waverly, IA 50677

Waverly: median income $85,633, home value $232,800, $141/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oberlin, OH 44074 97%532$80,801$234,200$151 Very close on everything we compare
Mankato, MN 56003 95%131$82,538$270,400$162 pricier homes ($38K more)
Pierre, SD 57501 94%411$81,791$245,100$152 Very close on everything we compare
Lewisburg, PA 17837 93%806$88,975$288,100$170 pricier homes ($55K more)
Portage, MI 49002 93%351$73,647$246,400$174 larger
Wichita, KS 67209 93%440$77,940$224,100$124 Very close on everything we compare
Seward, NE 68434 93%274$81,466$271,900$138 pricier homes ($39K more)
South Bend, IN 46637 92%323$71,462$207,100$154 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Spartanburg, SC 29302 91%786$80,819$285,400$156 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35210 91%709$73,061$255,800$191 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Peter, MN 56082 91%134$71,456$275,200$169 pricier homes ($42K more)
Maryland Heights, MO 63043 91%298$91,509$227,600$177 larger
Mcpherson, KS 67460 91%411$80,720$220,500$113 6 min shorter commute
Wichita Falls, TX 76310 91%701$82,183$224,600$153 larger · newer homes
Painted Post, NY 14870 90%779$84,476$177,500$128 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents
Danville, PA 17821 90%820$76,971$249,500$164 older residents
Kearney, NE 68847 90%372$73,818$238,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Delhi, NY 13753 89%889$70,000$216,200$160 smaller
Vestal, NY 13850 89%836$83,403$194,100$153 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Grove City, PA 16127 89%642$72,429$213,700$191 Very close on everything we compare
Annville, PA 17003 89%836$92,209$250,300$196 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, WV 26330 89%677$88,962$271,800$160 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
Midland, MI 48642 89%417$77,847$207,400$153 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Sheboygan, WI 53083 89%244$75,203$244,800$188 larger · older residents
Green Bay, WI 54301 89%249$78,684$225,600$175 larger · older homes

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.