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 Hull, IA 51239

Hull: median income $77,540, home value $236,500, $161/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Platte, SD 57369 95%142$78,100$237,400— Very close on everything we compare
Dakota City, NE 68731 95%58$79,924$205,600$156 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Delta, UT 84624 94%889$75,469$287,700$161 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Fort Recovery, OH 45846 92%616$91,736$249,400$150 larger
Fillmore, UT 84631 92%890$67,115$301,000$161 pricier homes ($65K more)
Botkins, OH 45306 91%643$86,354$255,600$157 6 min longer commute
Mc Bain, MI 49657 91%549$76,250$196,400$165 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min longer commute
Spencer, WI 54479 91%309$77,371$182,800$148 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Galva, KS 67443 91%340$88,938$220,600$137 older residents
Pennock, MN 56279 90%142$84,000$231,700$176 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Burlington, CO 80807 90%416$76,583$251,900$123 Very close on everything we compare
Aberdeen, ID 83210 90%841$74,615$213,300$184 5 min longer commute
Coldwater, OH 45828 89%620$72,703$252,100$132 larger
Belgrade, MN 56312 89%169$70,000$249,800$177 7 min longer commute
Hoxie, KS 67740 89%349$75,417$186,600— cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Anna, OH 45302 88%643$91,602$242,300$178 larger · 6 min longer commute
Rossville, IN 46065 88%527$80,104$216,300$133 8 min longer commute
Cleveland, WI 53015 88%422$88,810$222,200$164 older residents · 6 min longer commute
New York Mills, MN 56567 88%235$72,500$215,300$132 7 min longer commute
Washburn, ND 58577 88%370$74,471$260,100$145 5 min longer commute
Rangely, CO 81648 88%687$71,705$199,300$117 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cottonwood, ID 83522 88%1,011$79,688$250,000$178 9 min longer commute
Orangeville, UT 84537 88%821$90,086$246,200$136 smaller
Beaver, UT 84713 88%926$77,778$310,500$194 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Adams Center, NY 13606 87%1,007$88,977$203,900$143 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 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.