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 Mount Ayr, IA 50854

Mount Ayr: median income $81,250, home value $161,800, $78/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cissna Park, IL 60924 95%333$78,250$154,900$94 smaller
Deshler, OH 43516 94%540$89,000$150,900$73 Very close on everything we compare
Ashkum, IL 60911 94%329$89,792$158,700$91 smaller
El Paso, IL 61738 94%273$84,926$175,700$98 larger
Burrton, KS 67020 94%261$80,680$130,200$77 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 93%375$74,583$154,100$104 Very close on everything we compare
Fountain City, IN 47341 91%494$81,750$157,900$100 less walkable
Port Edwards, WI 54469 91%335$74,038$153,400$108 Very close on everything we compare
Minneota, MN 56264 91%280$81,071$189,600$81 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Halstead, KS 67056 91%256$78,958$169,200$111 Very close on everything we compare
Geneva, NE 68361 91%178$80,909$170,800$104 Very close on everything we compare
Shelton, NE 68876 91%236$82,207$163,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Arnold, NE 69120 91%313$69,886$158,200— smaller
Thomas, OK 73669 91%422$69,821$151,100$67 smaller
South New Berlin, NY 13843 90%979$79,018$175,500$65 Very close on everything we compare
Shullsburg, WI 53586 90%244$70,806$166,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Annawan, IL 61234 90%230$79,688$146,500$92 smaller
Catlin, IL 61817 90%346$80,375$131,100$113 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Moweaqua, IL 62550 90%285$73,634$149,600$105 Very close on everything we compare
Buhler, KS 67522 90%260$72,622$146,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Ellis, KS 67637 90%306$74,281$158,700$92 6 min shorter commute
Gibbon, NE 68840 90%242$76,394$208,100$91 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Aledo, IL 61231 89%185$70,991$147,600$93 larger
Roanoke, IL 61561 89%263$86,071$150,800$107 Very close on everything we compare
Chenoa, IL 61726 89%288$77,800$135,800$112 cheaper homes ($26K less)

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.