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 Lawton, IA 51030

Lawton: median income $86,167, home value $271,000, $148/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wallingford, VT 05773 97%1,172$80,726$261,700$155 larger
Ashby, MN 56309 95%248$84,750$289,900$140 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NE 68446 95%127$90,746$236,700$127 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Silver Lake, KS 66539 94%235$87,554$230,600$138 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Winfield, PA 17889 93%1,002$89,063$288,900$188 larger
Battle Ground, IN 47920 92%505$90,441$276,300$151 larger · less walkable
Coon Valley, WI 54623 92%276$88,864$276,400$181 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 92%202$85,114$232,500$146 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Rushford, MN 55971 92%243$88,750$231,700$142 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Kasota, MN 56050 91%168$90,000$342,700$211 pricier homes ($72K more)
Salem, SD 57058 91%103$84,286$228,600$132 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Hampton, IL 61256 91%305$90,406$184,900$157 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Turbotville, PA 17772 90%1,005$81,146$241,900$136 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Lenhartsville, PA 19534 90%1,058$80,357$293,100$204 Very close on everything we compare
Jim Falls, WI 54748 90%305$78,750$235,100$161 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Altura, MN 55910 90%241$76,389$259,100$134 Very close on everything we compare
Rollingstone, MN 55969 90%247$94,444$291,800$157 Very close on everything we compare
Janesville, MN 56048 90%168$85,532$238,600$159 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Waterville, MN 56096 90%178$87,679$278,000$160 larger
Arlington, SD 57212 90%136$93,750$238,100— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Brimfield, IL 61517 90%346$99,886$275,000$138 larger
Easton, MO 64443 90%207$86,042$300,000— pricier homes ($29K more) · newer homes
Auburn, KS 66402 90%249$88,427$260,900$154 larger
Arlington, NE 68002 90%74$93,220$299,700$130 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Doniphan, NE 68832 90%164$96,641$250,000$154 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.