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 Sioux Center, IA 51250

Sioux Center: median income $94,119, home value $294,000, $144/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lewisburg, PA 17837 84%997$88,975$288,100$170 larger · older residents · more renters
Mankato, MN 56003 84%131$82,538$270,400$162 larger · older residents
Mcpherson, KS 67460 84%334$80,720$220,500$113 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · older residents
Winona Lake, IN 46590 83%545$82,188$274,500$152 smaller · more renters
Wichita, KS 67209 83%379$77,940$224,100$124 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents
Pierre, SD 57501 82%225$81,791$245,100$152 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Blanding, UT 84511 81%796$73,218$328,800$181 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Bridgewater, VA 22812 80%954$85,941$366,900$206 pricier homes ($73K more) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Stewartville, MN 55976 80%193$87,330$280,200$172 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Chamberlain, SD 57325 80%165$80,139$230,300$157 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older residents
Idaho Falls, ID 83404 80%796$82,103$394,300$164 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · older residents
Minster, OH 45865 79%636$89,000$286,300$177 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68157 79%132$98,015$239,000$153 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older residents
Coldwater, OH 45828 78%620$72,703$252,100$132 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Rothschild, WI 54474 78%349$81,635$193,600$147 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · older residents
Morton, IL 61550 78%385$98,516$246,700$147 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · older residents
Teutopolis, IL 62467 78%485$96,406$232,800$128 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older residents
Lansing, KS 66043 78%273$103,060$271,200$153 older residents · 9 min longer commute
Wahoo, NE 68066 78%131$101,438$266,900$166 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 10 min longer commute
Aurora, NE 68818 78%181$81,045$263,900$123 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Kearney, NE 68847 78%221$73,818$238,400$143 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older residents
Northfield, MN 55057 77%178$92,622$363,600$193 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Saint Peter, MN 56082 77%140$71,456$275,200$169 older residents
Marshall, MN 56258 77%97$72,731$219,600$119 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · more renters
Omaha, NE 68138 77%133$86,007$237,200$189 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes

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.