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 Sioux City, IA 51108

Sioux City: median income $81,205, home value $169,700, $150/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nebraska City, NE 68410 92%132$71,640$182,900$135 larger
Lake City, PA 16423 91%819$74,635$168,200$164 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Tuscola, IL 61953 91%461$78,214$164,400$138 less walkable
Minoa, NY 13116 89%1,030$95,506$179,400$194 smaller
Plainview, MN 55964 88%239$84,318$253,200$172 pricier homes ($84K more)
Sullivan, IL 61951 88%452$71,905$150,900$129 less walkable
Central City, NE 68826 88%130$74,583$172,100$116 smaller
Rossford, OH 43460 87%659$73,882$174,000$186 more renters
Northwood, OH 43619 87%663$76,537$182,000$166 less walkable
Rothschild, WI 54474 87%373$81,635$193,600$147 more renters
Springfield, IL 62707 87%395$89,926$174,600$142 older residents
Palmyra, MO 63461 87%315$69,707$212,000$124 pricier homes ($42K more) · less walkable
Higginsville, MO 64037 87%277$91,843$187,100$151 older residents · less walkable
Kemmerer, WY 83101 87%727$76,947$191,200$125 smaller · less walkable
Dayton, OH 45432 86%667$83,115$183,300$168 larger
Chamberlain, SD 57325 86%172$80,139$230,300$157 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Le Roy, IL 61752 86%422$87,591$178,100$135 less walkable
Red Bud, IL 62278 86%450$79,688$178,300$122 less walkable
Bellevue, NE 68147 86%97$90,255$214,800$177 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · less walkable
Aurora, NE 68818 86%145$81,045$263,900$123 pricier homes ($94K more)
Adams Center, NY 13606 85%1,027$88,977$203,900$143 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · less walkable
Erie, PA 16511 85%834$74,102$172,300$152 larger · older homes
Kenova, WV 25530 85%782$70,508$162,100$112 older residents
Archbold, OH 43502 85%622$74,925$203,300$177 pricier homes ($34K more) · less walkable
Huntingburg, IN 47542 85%575$77,574$198,100$135 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · less walkable

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.