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 Hawarden, IA 51023

Hawarden: median income $80,357, home value $173,300, $99/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 96%101$71,648$161,800$96 Very close on everything we compare
Arthur, IL 61911 96%474$82,633$171,600$88 Very close on everything we compare
Parkston, SD 57366 95%80$78,155$184,600$104 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, IL 61739 94%438$76,555$164,400$112 Very close on everything we compare
Windom, MN 56101 93%91$77,083$183,700$117 larger
Clara City, MN 56222 93%147$71,429$156,600$96 smaller
Renville, MN 56284 93%138$72,500$162,500$116 smaller
Freeman, SD 57029 93%56$73,750$179,700$107 smaller
Arcola, IL 61910 93%481$88,538$143,200$108 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Hancock, MN 56244 92%176$85,417$162,100$112 smaller
Minneota, MN 56264 92%110$81,071$189,600$81 smaller
Moweaqua, IL 62550 92%451$73,634$149,600$105 5 min longer commute
Marceline, MO 64658 92%292$75,848$144,700$98 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Hoxie, KS 67740 92%328$75,417$186,600— smaller
Gibbon, NE 68840 92%198$76,394$208,100$91 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min longer commute
Gothenburg, NE 69138 92%237$77,604$199,300$105 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Carey, OH 43316 91%686$78,828$167,300$110 larger
Martin, SD 57551 91%266$70,096$161,900— smaller
Tuscola, IL 61953 91%478$78,214$164,400$138 larger
Halstead, KS 67056 91%349$78,958$169,200$111 6 min longer commute
Ellsworth, KS 67439 91%309$73,409$158,300— older residents
Ellis, KS 67637 91%322$74,281$158,700$92 Very close on everything we compare
Osceola, NE 68651 91%137$78,487$191,300$99 smaller
Farwell, TX 79325 91%691$71,771$163,400— smaller
Granite Falls, MN 56241 90%133$66,875$155,600$113 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.