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 Alta, IA 51002

Alta: median income $70,625, home value $167,100, $118/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Renville, MN 56284 95%145$72,500$162,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, IL 61739 95%375$76,555$164,400$112 larger
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 94%89$71,648$161,800$96 Very close on everything we compare
Granite Falls, MN 56241 93%148$66,875$155,600$113 older residents
Ellendale, ND 58436 93%279$69,286$164,100$110 smaller
Warren, MN 56762 92%392$62,933$160,100$102 Very close on everything we compare
Parkston, SD 57366 92%143$78,155$184,600$104 older residents
Buhler, KS 67522 92%340$72,622$146,300$109 6 min longer commute
Sunray, TX 79086 92%577$70,648$137,700$93 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Ashley, IN 46705 91%532$67,266$159,700$131 5 min longer commute
Darlington, WI 53530 91%264$69,511$181,800$138 larger · 6 min longer commute
Windom, MN 56101 91%84$77,083$183,700$117 larger
Freeman, SD 57029 91%118$73,750$179,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Ellis, KS 67637 91%339$74,281$158,700$92 Very close on everything we compare
Hoxie, KS 67740 91%355$75,417$186,600— smaller
David City, NE 68632 91%136$70,242$176,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Lowville, NY 13367 90%1,002$67,873$171,000$119 larger
Groton, SD 57445 90%236$84,948$193,800— pricier homes ($27K more)
Martin, SD 57551 90%327$70,096$161,900— more renters
Central City, NE 68826 90%175$74,583$172,100$116 older residents
Hennessey, OK 73742 90%476$70,538$171,800$92 Very close on everything we compare
Keeseville, NY 12944 89%1,097$72,207$141,700$121 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 7 min longer commute
Hancock, MN 56244 89%196$85,417$162,100$112 smaller
Flandreau, SD 57028 89%116$72,798$193,800$122 pricier homes ($27K more) · more renters
Ladd, IL 61329 89%325$67,321$129,600$118 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller

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.