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 Greenfield, IA 50849

Greenfield: median income $64,821, home value $148,600, $143/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gordon, NE 69343 96%411$59,741$116,700— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Wakefield, NE 68784 94%142$62,216$144,900$145 Very close on everything we compare
Cherokee, OK 73728 94%379$67,417$118,600— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Oakley, KS 67748 93%371$78,083$137,100— Very close on everything we compare
Blue Earth, MN 56013 90%162$71,553$176,900$103 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Pipestone, MN 56164 90%207$74,201$149,800$146 larger
Alcester, SD 57001 90%162$69,531$177,400$166 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Meade, KS 67864 90%420$75,929$135,700— Very close on everything we compare
Spearville, KS 67876 90%371$71,964$183,900$142 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Ord, NE 68862 90%234$60,321$163,100— newer homes
Cambridge, NE 69022 90%308$64,719$152,400— smaller
Ladd, IL 61329 89%271$67,321$129,600$118 smaller · younger residents
Wisner, NE 68791 89%136$69,018$165,300$137 younger residents
Grant, NE 69140 89%380$70,417$160,800— 6 min shorter commute
Ticonderoga, NY 12883 88%1,080$65,865$178,800$152 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Tupper Lake, NY 12986 88%1,029$67,883$158,900$164 larger · older residents
Springfield, MN 56087 88%204$64,375$142,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Roxana, IL 62084 88%287$63,226$99,000$127 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Beloit, KS 67420 88%233$62,938$144,200— larger · newer homes
Scott City, KS 67871 88%394$68,339$160,500$160 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Brockway, PA 15824 87%810$64,623$155,600$144 larger
Sebewaing, MI 48759 87%584$65,222$118,700$155 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Freeman, SD 57029 87%209$73,750$179,700$107 pricier homes ($31K more)
Cut Bank, MT 59427 87%1,009$61,094$174,300$115 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Granville, IL 61326 87%271$70,880$148,100$117 7 min longer commute

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.