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 Whiting, IA 51063

Whiting: median income $80,750, home value $159,500, $169/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lamoure, ND 58458 90%312$73,250$172,300— Very close on everything we compare
Waukomis, OK 73773 88%416$78,250$154,900$153 larger
Wessington Springs, SD 57382 87%182$79,375$164,900$146 older residents
Wathena, KS 66090 87%178$87,025$161,100$152 larger
Milnor, ND 58060 86%287$77,143$167,800$167 newer homes
Park River, ND 58270 86%439$69,811$164,200$129 larger
New England, ND 58647 86%446$84,583$227,300$133 pricier homes ($68K more)
Sutton, NE 68979 86%138$85,862$157,900$169 more homeowners
Union Springs, NY 13160 85%993$86,029$185,600$168 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Milford, NY 13807 85%1,080$77,083$166,500$225 newer homes
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 85%409$86,075$198,500$145 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Alcester, SD 57001 85%63$69,531$177,400$166 younger residents
Enderlin, ND 58027 85%316$75,774$159,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Mound City, MO 64470 85%148$70,833$165,800$123 more walkable
Spearville, KS 67876 85%353$71,964$183,900$142 younger residents
Mars Hill, ME 04758 84%1,424$65,156$162,200$120 younger residents
Harborcreek, PA 16421 84%830$64,091$224,200$184 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Hopedale, IL 61747 84%371$80,333$188,200$126 pricier homes ($29K more)
Tilden, NE 68781 84%84$67,212$171,700— more homeowners
Croghan, NY 13327 83%1,056$66,875$181,300$144 larger · younger residents
Hartwick, NY 13348 83%1,075$80,245$170,400$151 younger residents · more homeowners
Otego, NY 13825 83%1,070$76,875$194,500$128 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Leicester, NY 14481 83%931$79,135$163,000$152 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Rosholt, SD 57260 83%259$82,656$170,000$216 more homeowners
Randolph, ME 04346 82%1,333$66,574$174,300$199 larger

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.