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 Hinton, IA 51024

Hinton: median income $114,219, home value $347,800, $185/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Churchville, VA 24421 91%948$98,125$372,700$201 larger
Hickman, TN 38567 91%713$100,368$340,500— smaller
Mohrsville, PA 19541 88%1,057$107,625$312,400$184 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Valley Springs, SD 57068 88%68$112,847$260,400$172 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older homes
Gum Spring, VA 23065 87%1,022$92,577$305,100$251 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Sadieville, KY 40370 87%683$94,234$284,200$165 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Onondaga, MI 49264 87%598$92,188$235,700$179 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Hager City, WI 54014 87%234$101,667$302,900$208 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Mazeppa, MN 55956 87%222$98,558$341,600$188 younger residents
Miltona, MN 56354 87%243$88,693$403,700$235 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Powderly, TX 75473 87%611$103,793$234,200$148 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
Cusick, WA 99119 87%1,090$95,385$360,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Fredericksburg, PA 17026 86%1,036$102,663$275,000$148 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · younger residents
Goode, VA 24556 86%963$87,250$399,000$204 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($51K more)
Junction City, WI 54443 86%356$99,423$279,400$135 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Ventress, LA 70783 86%867$103,583$386,100$170 pricier homes ($38K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Soulsbyville, CA 95372 86%1,297$97,398$408,300$255 pricier homes ($61K more) · younger residents
Minot, ME 04258 85%1,303$95,655$294,900$208 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more homeowners
Mount Sidney, VA 24467 85%958$93,851$386,300$180 pricier homes ($39K more)
Armuchee, GA 30105 85%823$99,375$328,700$207 5 min longer commute
Clermont, GA 30527 85%878$103,281$356,000$185 larger · 6 min longer commute
Laotto, IN 46763 85%578$97,054$270,800$155 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents
Custer, WI 54423 85%370$113,690$329,100$239 Very close on everything we compare
Doniphan, NE 68832 85%166$96,641$250,000$154 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older homes
Bella Vista, CA 96008 85%1,331$92,313$345,800$233 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.