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.

Reset

Towns most like Sioux City, IA 51109

Sioux City: median income $79,034, home value $130,900, $149/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Syracuse, NY 13211 84%1,030$66,724$121,600$169 larger
Omaha, NE 68117 84%94$75,237$175,100$167 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Hiawatha, KS 66434 75%194$76,613$143,400$126 less walkable
Burnham, PA 17009 74%984$73,088$145,700$99 smaller · less walkable
Brockway, PA 15824 73%912$64,623$155,600$144 less walkable
Sleepy Eye, MN 56085 73%150$73,000$167,100$106 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable
Posen, IL 60469 73%455$73,676$173,900$162 pricier homes ($43K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Virden, IL 62690 72%406$84,196$118,300$101 6 min longer commute · more renters · less walkable
Norco, LA 70079 72%927$71,433$238,900$158 pricier homes ($108K more) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Marceline, MO 64658 71%267$75,848$144,700$98 less walkable
Sebewaing, MI 48759 70%662$65,222$118,700$155 less walkable
Pipestone, MN 56164 70%102$74,201$149,800$146 larger · less walkable
Tuscola, IL 61953 70%466$78,214$164,400$138 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · less walkable
Ellsworth, KS 67439 70%277$73,409$158,300— pricier homes ($27K more) · more renters · less walkable
Paden City, WV 26159 69%834$66,190$104,100$93 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43611 69%668$62,042$132,000$145 larger · more renters
Lakemore, OH 44250 69%781$66,328$128,400$143 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Tracy, MN 56175 69%126$73,750$154,400$107 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Peru, IL 61354 69%387$76,392$158,500$155 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Schuyler, NE 68661 69%79$83,279$155,200$95 larger · younger residents · more renters
Central City, NE 68826 69%124$74,583$172,100$116 pricier homes ($41K more) · less walkable
Saint Marys, OH 45885 68%639$78,550$164,700$151 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · less walkable
Garnett, KS 66032 68%299$69,647$175,600$133 pricier homes ($45K more) · 9 min longer commute · more renters
Van Wert, OH 45891 67%623$64,272$152,100$133 larger · less walkable
Hector, MN 55342 67%178$64,861$169,300$153 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · 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.