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 Inwood, IA 51240

Inwood: median income $83,929, home value $232,600, $123/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jones, MI 49061 95%547$79,229$223,500$161 Very close on everything we compare
Sherwood, OH 43556 94%623$73,125$195,900$138 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Rossville, IN 46065 94%543$80,104$216,300$133 larger
Dakota, MN 55925 93%256$92,500$282,200— pricier homes ($50K more)
Lawtons, NY 14091 92%886$82,833$236,200— Very close on everything we compare
Freeport, MN 56331 92%185$96,042$271,800$169 pricier homes ($39K more)
Battle Creek, NE 68715 92%108$95,714$238,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Bethel, PA 19507 91%1,052$93,177$271,700$172 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Bloomington, WI 53804 91%280$82,917$165,800$114 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Spruce Pine, AL 35585 90%768$92,679$211,200$94 Very close on everything we compare
De Graff, OH 43318 90%677$91,520$215,900$143 larger
Sterling, OH 44276 90%765$86,583$231,300$152 older residents
Botkins, OH 45306 90%660$86,354$255,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Harrod, OH 45850 90%665$84,886$193,900$159 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Lester Prairie, MN 55354 90%160$97,941$268,900$143 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Velva, ND 58790 90%394$83,233$224,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Russia, OH 45363 89%654$95,268$316,900— pricier homes ($84K more)
Holland, IN 47541 89%603$78,409$156,800— cheaper homes ($76K less)
Casnovia, MI 49318 89%533$81,591$240,600$90 older homes
Mc Bain, MI 49657 89%562$76,250$196,400$165 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Pennock, MN 56279 89%141$84,000$231,700$176 smaller
Verndale, MN 56481 89%233$73,295$167,700$141 cheaper homes ($65K less)
New York Mills, MN 56567 89%230$72,500$215,300$132 larger
Mazon, IL 60444 89%434$87,614$219,000$188 Very close on everything we compare
Glenarm, IL 62536 89%433$95,809$260,000$112 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller

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.