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 Primghar, IA 51245

Primghar: median income $69,531, home value $149,700, $97/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shelton, NE 68876 94%225$82,207$163,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Pearl City, IL 61062 93%301$66,667$196,900$93 pricier homes ($47K more)
Lyndon, KS 66451 92%307$76,908$158,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Caney, KS 67333 92%418$63,103$161,200$97 larger
Minneola, KS 67865 92%452$65,125$126,700$74 Very close on everything we compare
Arnold, NE 69120 92%256$69,886$158,200— older residents
Lancaster, MO 63548 91%239$66,625$163,400— Very close on everything we compare
Payne, OH 45880 90%576$69,500$124,700$140 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Shullsburg, WI 53586 90%277$70,806$166,100$106 larger · older residents
Cissna Park, IL 60924 90%436$78,250$154,900$94 older residents
Villa Grove, IL 61956 90%446$75,125$143,000$106 larger · older residents
Ravenwood, MO 64479 90%194$61,184$150,700— newer homes
Burrton, KS 67020 90%365$80,680$130,200$77 Very close on everything we compare
Buhler, KS 67522 90%359$72,622$146,300$109 larger
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 90%752$68,750$158,100— Very close on everything we compare
Thomas, OK 73669 90%533$69,821$151,100$67 Very close on everything we compare
Republic, OH 44867 89%661$72,716$167,000$96 larger · older residents
Hillsboro, IN 47949 89%485$76,429$118,800$112 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Ethan, SD 57334 89%122$62,167$206,500— pricier homes ($57K more)
Forreston, IL 61030 89%316$71,655$157,200$130 larger
Shannon, IL 61078 89%307$75,769$133,100$89 older residents
Elgin, NE 68636 89%145$78,056$113,800— cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Cairo, NE 68824 89%209$77,989$219,900$115 pricier homes ($70K more)
White Deer, TX 79097 89%605$88,182$144,600— Very close on everything we compare
Grover Hill, OH 45849 88%589$77,841$124,500$99 cheaper homes ($25K 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.