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 George, IA 51237

George: median income $61,667, home value $159,500, $89/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walnut, IL 61376 96%348$61,200$128,400$91 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Wells, MN 56097 95%116$62,264$133,800$91 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Canby, MN 56220 95%96$61,414$174,500$80 larger
Gibbon, MN 55335 94%111$62,206$149,300$98 5 min longer commute
Winnebago, MN 56098 94%96$69,000$147,900$103 Very close on everything we compare
Fulda, MN 56131 94%42$73,063$180,100$99 Very close on everything we compare
Creighton, NE 68729 94%114$63,292$152,300$71 Very close on everything we compare
Tilden, NE 68781 94%129$67,212$171,700— Very close on everything we compare
Walton, IN 46994 93%531$56,563$136,200$102 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfax, MN 55332 93%103$62,361$144,300$92 6 min longer commute
Beach, ND 58621 93%462$67,000$124,800$69 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Atkinson, IL 61235 93%332$61,932$132,800$67 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Dorchester, NE 68343 93%195$74,554$173,400$99 smaller
Glenville, MN 56036 92%138$73,287$182,400$98 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MN 56087 92%79$64,375$142,600$92 larger
Stockton, IL 61085 92%310$59,798$131,300$111 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Waverly, IL 62692 92%406$66,143$123,100$85 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Fullerton, NE 68638 92%170$56,917$144,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
Stoystown, PA 15563 91%904$62,411$139,600$128 larger
Fredonia, PA 16124 91%814$55,455$171,500— Very close on everything we compare
Tekonsha, MI 49092 91%565$64,211$156,400$126 Very close on everything we compare
Wabasso, MN 56293 91%82$67,396$170,500$103 newer homes
Clark, SD 57225 91%137$66,875$155,100$77 Very close on everything we compare
La Moille, IL 61330 91%363$69,005$147,600$115 Very close on everything we compare
Rock Port, MO 64482 91%203$66,534$120,000$97 cheaper homes ($40K less)

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.