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 Sloan, IA 51055

Sloan: median income $72,143, home value $218,300, $156/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alcester, SD 57001 94%56$69,531$177,400$166 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Plankinton, SD 57368 93%153$74,688$202,700$134 younger residents
Ponca, NE 68770 93%33$71,607$199,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Croghan, NY 13327 92%1,057$66,875$181,300$144 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Herminie, PA 15637 92%868$70,461$220,600$159 older homes
Salem, SD 57058 92%118$84,286$228,600$132 Very close on everything we compare
Broadus, MT 59317 92%496$71,250$197,400— Very close on everything we compare
Big Sandy, MT 59520 92%786$62,109$204,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Victoria, KS 67671 92%279$77,702$181,900$176 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Albany, TX 76430 92%679$77,102$202,400$145 larger
Mars Hill, ME 04758 91%1,424$65,156$162,200$120 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Darien, WI 53114 91%382$72,708$241,000$159 more homeowners
Kerkhoven, MN 56252 91%210$82,571$207,100$128 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, MN 56282 91%198$69,896$201,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Wall, SD 57790 91%325$75,096$187,500$172 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Choteau, MT 59422 91%868$67,500$256,500$184 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Hopedale, IL 61747 91%375$80,333$188,200$126 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Harborcreek, PA 16421 90%832$64,091$224,200$184 larger · older residents
Pine Level, NC 27568 90%1,070$66,071$230,800— younger residents
Belmont, WI 53510 90%302$82,083$229,800$169 younger residents
Fosston, MN 56542 90%370$59,706$186,300$128 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Alma, KS 66401 90%223$73,516$220,900$176 7 min longer commute
Blue Hill, NE 68930 90%176$65,875$184,000$135 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Sutherland, NE 69165 90%264$75,795$211,800$105 Very close on everything we compare
Waukomis, OK 73773 90%422$78,250$154,900$153 cheaper homes ($63K less)

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.