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 Milford, IA 51351

Milford: median income $73,824, home value $273,100, $184/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bottineau, ND 58318 94%458$85,729$220,600$176 cheaper homes ($53K less)
La Grange, TX 78945 94%932$75,446$340,300$168 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Centre Hall, PA 16828 93%912$76,468$273,800$192 Very close on everything we compare
Lake City, MN 55041 93%163$78,672$275,200$221 larger
Bridgman, MI 49106 92%448$72,500$262,400$206 Very close on everything we compare
Glenwood, MN 56334 92%161$69,525$279,900$191 Very close on everything we compare
Choteau, MT 59422 92%879$67,500$256,500$184 smaller
Waldoboro, ME 04572 91%1,284$69,107$274,900$192 7 min longer commute
Munroe Falls, OH 44262 91%717$81,214$250,800$158 Very close on everything we compare
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 91%369$73,703$241,900$193 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Cameron, WI 54822 91%222$70,000$235,700$174 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cumberland, WI 54829 91%218$66,538$245,800$217 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Early, TX 76802 91%823$70,714$207,400$163 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents
Weed, CA 96094 91%1,390$68,103$332,300$208 pricier homes ($59K more)
Vernon, VT 05354 90%1,141$85,682$285,100$204 smaller · younger residents
Montoursville, PA 17754 90%942$72,633$249,300$156 larger
Oakland, MD 21550 90%863$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Washburn, WI 54891 90%311$70,536$208,800$194 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Big Timber, MT 59011 90%748$78,000$328,100$211 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Limon, CO 80828 90%523$67,708$244,300$151 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Wheatland, WY 82201 90%505$64,982$290,000$138 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, WY 82834 90%579$63,395$328,700$222 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Orofino, ID 83544 90%1,051$69,458$292,700$198 Very close on everything we compare
Alturas, CA 96101 90%1,296$61,680$211,200$156 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Lyndonville, VT 05851 89%1,148$68,488$227,200$177 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.