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 Sheldon, IA 51201

Sheldon: median income $68,799, home value $197,800, $118/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glendive, MT 59330 96%510$70,964$185,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, WI 54806 95%342$64,864$185,800$112 larger
Windom, MN 56101 95%60$77,083$183,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Palmyra, MO 63461 95%323$69,707$212,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Nebraska City, NE 68410 95%173$71,640$182,900$135 Very close on everything we compare
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351 94%664$67,606$170,400$148 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Luverne, MN 56156 94%38$71,066$232,300$133 pricier homes ($35K more)
Wadena, MN 56482 94%228$64,439$169,800$133 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Central City, NE 68826 94%180$74,583$172,100$116 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Burlington, CO 80807 94%427$76,583$251,900$123 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Lowville, NY 13367 93%1,022$67,873$171,000$119 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Granite Falls, MN 56241 93%113$66,875$155,600$113 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Montevideo, MN 56265 93%124$74,848$162,400$115 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 93%101$66,352$176,800$118 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, IL 61739 93%412$76,555$164,400$112 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Tuscola, IL 61953 93%455$78,214$164,400$138 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Burlington, KS 66839 93%342$63,077$175,500$119 smaller
West Point, NE 68788 93%103$69,867$211,700$115 Very close on everything we compare
Gothenburg, NE 69138 93%270$77,604$199,300$105 Very close on everything we compare
Rawlins, WY 82301 93%588$62,841$217,300$126 Very close on everything we compare
Watsontown, PA 17777 92%981$67,188$216,800$134 5 min longer commute
Kenova, WV 25530 92%771$70,508$162,100$112 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Saint James, MN 56081 92%83$67,337$163,800$106 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 5 min longer commute
Olivia, MN 56277 92%118$70,326$184,500$133 smaller · older residents
Melrose, MN 56352 92%178$73,721$229,100$131 pricier homes ($31K more)

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.