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 Rock Valley, IA 51247

Rock Valley: median income $78,358, home value $262,900, $78/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lisbon, ND 58054 86%234$75,370$209,000$92 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Abbotsford, WI 54405 84%322$69,659$177,900$112 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Baker, MT 59313 83%447$78,015$231,800$70 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Arthur, IL 61911 83%473$82,633$171,600$88 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Burlington, CO 80807 83%409$76,583$251,900$123 more homeowners
Sabetha, KS 66534 82%230$73,050$198,900$87 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Roseau, MN 56751 81%381$77,279$196,300$108 cheaper homes ($67K less) · more homeowners
Cherokee, NC 28719 80%873$60,658$188,400— cheaper homes ($75K less) · more homeowners
Arcadia, WI 54612 80%252$77,647$196,400$156 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Rangely, CO 81648 80%679$71,705$199,300$117 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Colby, WI 54421 79%320$60,820$194,500$114 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 5 min longer commute
Beulah, ND 58523 79%388$81,806$215,000$135 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Flatonia, TX 78941 79%933$76,477$194,200$103 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners
Farwell, TX 79325 79%707$71,771$163,400— cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fort Stockton, TX 79735 79%924$78,935$174,500$94 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Thief River Falls, MN 56701 78%340$78,599$196,000$129 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
York, NE 68467 78%174$70,525$194,600$104 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Valentine, NE 69201 78%220$62,101$161,300$106 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Hennessey, OK 73742 78%499$70,538$171,800$92 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Coldwater, OH 45828 77%628$72,703$252,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
Flandreau, SD 57028 77%62$72,798$193,800$122 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Warm Springs, OR 97761 77%1,242$57,000$240,000— smaller · 6 min longer commute
Sidney, MT 59270 76%492$72,630$267,600$133 larger · 8 min longer commute
Glendive, MT 59330 76%490$70,964$185,900$105 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · older homes
Schuyler, NE 68661 76%126$83,279$155,200$95 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more walkable

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.