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 Sutherland, IA 51058

Sutherland: median income $63,036, home value $133,000, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newman Grove, NE 68758 95%145$56,667$132,500$101 Very close on everything we compare
Salisbury, PA 15558 91%877$64,038$142,000$113 larger
Milledgeville, IL 61051 91%299$59,565$104,200$89 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute
Scribner, NE 68057 91%109$74,213$168,200$113 pricier homes ($35K more)
Stromsburg, NE 68666 91%168$63,529$177,200$101 pricier homes ($44K more)
New Washington, OH 44854 90%663$70,357$146,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Summitville, IN 46070 90%539$57,667$117,300$78 larger
Flanagan, IL 61740 90%370$79,904$143,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Leigh, NE 68643 90%126$77,125$156,900— Very close on everything we compare
Mount Savage, MD 21545 89%889$60,264$130,700$111 larger
Galva, IL 61434 89%306$56,780$100,100$69 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Roxana, IL 62084 89%401$63,226$99,000$127 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Madison, NE 68748 89%129$69,740$148,800$68 larger
Greens Fork, IN 47345 88%580$73,750$155,600$136 Very close on everything we compare
Oxford, IN 47971 88%457$64,375$152,600$149 larger · 5 min longer commute
Lamberton, MN 56152 88%87$75,536$129,900$90 newer homes
Welcome, MN 56181 88%65$55,750$114,100$178 younger residents · newer homes
Creighton, NE 68729 88%128$63,292$152,300$71 larger · newer homes
Valley View, PA 17983 87%986$72,411$158,700$101 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Kentland, IN 47951 87%440$66,156$115,600$107 larger
Ivanhoe, MN 56142 87%109$57,500$120,500$63 newer homes
Rossville, IL 60963 87%442$66,250$98,300$87 cheaper homes ($35K less)
La Moille, IL 61330 87%332$69,005$147,600$115 older residents
Owaneco, IL 62555 87%406$69,676$131,300— Very close on everything we compare
Wilson, KS 67490 87%327$67,115$88,800$80 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older 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.