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 Paullina, IA 51046

Paullina: median income $84,125, home value $160,300, $96/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Enderlin, ND 58027 94%268$75,774$159,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Bird Island, MN 55310 92%130$87,292$160,500$113 Very close on everything we compare
Dorchester, NE 68343 91%176$74,554$173,400$99 Very close on everything we compare
Howard, SD 57349 90%119$75,179$153,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Alden, MN 56009 89%117$80,804$203,700$108 pricier homes ($43K more)
Meade, KS 67864 89%463$75,929$135,700— Very close on everything we compare
Remington, IN 47977 88%465$80,000$167,100$87 larger · younger residents
South Wayne, WI 53587 88%296$90,250$203,900$100 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
La Moille, IL 61330 88%342$69,005$147,600$115 Very close on everything we compare
Hay Springs, NE 69347 88%354$76,133$116,300— cheaper homes ($44K less)
Hallock, MN 56728 87%405$79,444$152,100$96 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Clark, SD 57225 87%166$66,875$155,100$77 newer homes
Tilden, NE 68781 87%125$67,212$171,700— newer homes
Glenville, MN 56036 86%130$73,287$182,400$98 newer homes
Winnebago, MN 56098 86%95$69,000$147,900$103 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Fulda, MN 56131 86%63$73,063$180,100$99 larger · younger residents
Heron Lake, MN 56137 86%60$71,250$123,900$141 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Madison, MN 56256 86%142$65,521$124,200$119 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
New England, ND 58647 86%427$84,583$227,300$133 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Frankfort, KS 66427 86%228$79,481$133,600— cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Attica, OH 44807 85%669$87,356$153,200$120 larger · 6 min longer commute · older homes
New Madison, OH 45346 85%605$77,083$161,300$110 7 min longer commute
Tyler, MN 56178 85%93$87,031$165,400$125 younger residents
Beach, ND 58621 85%488$67,000$124,800$69 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Osceola, NE 68651 85%155$78,487$191,300$99 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents

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.