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 Doon, IA 51235

Doon: median income $71,016, home value $240,700, $189/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tok, AK 99780 90%2,296$64,330$218,800$162 larger
Gunnison, UT 84634 87%859$72,130$292,700$163 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Hoolehua, HI 96729 85%3,779$59,375$231,900— larger
Pennock, MN 56279 84%137$84,000$231,700$176 5 min longer commute
Montezuma, KS 67867 84%452$67,000$186,900$232 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Centerfield, UT 84622 84%860$77,778$315,200$170 pricier homes ($75K more) · more homeowners
Dakota City, NE 68731 82%64$79,924$205,600$156 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Belgrade, MN 56312 80%164$70,000$249,800$177 larger · 7 min longer commute
Hoffman, MN 56339 80%176$60,893$221,500$171 10 min longer commute
Seiling, OK 73663 80%515$61,103$166,800$143 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Dayton, IN 47941 79%525$78,553$175,400$146 cheaper homes ($65K less) · younger residents
Stetsonville, WI 54480 79%318$68,333$179,900$158 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 6 min longer commute
Wolsey, SD 57384 79%137$64,063$203,000$125 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Hildebran, NC 28637 78%944$67,500$197,900$185 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older residents
Mc Bain, MI 49657 78%551$76,250$196,400$165 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Broadus, MT 59317 78%468$71,250$197,400— cheaper homes ($43K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Rangely, CO 81648 78%686$71,705$199,300$117 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Oakfield, TN 38362 77%655$60,714$164,700$170 cheaper homes ($76K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Aberdeen, ID 83210 77%838$74,615$213,300$184 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Lewisville, ID 83431 77%792$90,833$241,700$208 8 min longer commute
Cottonwood, ID 83522 77%1,007$79,688$250,000$178 larger · 9 min longer commute · older homes
Ferron, UT 84523 77%829$71,212$229,500$204 larger · 9 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Orrstown, PA 17244 76%981$70,729$207,500$172 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Chili, WI 54420 76%305$79,899$201,300$202 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 7 min longer commute
New York Mills, MN 56567 76%229$72,500$215,300$132 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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.