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 Spirit Lake, IA 51360

Spirit Lake: median income $75,882, home value $271,700, $253/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boyne City, MI 49712 93%514$74,033$294,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 93%365$73,703$241,900$193 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 93%396$70,212$297,300$257 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 93%237$70,037$314,700$217 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Buffalo, WY 82834 93%580$63,395$328,700$222 pricier homes ($57K more)
Ludington, MI 49431 92%435$66,336$237,700$203 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Plymouth, WI 53073 91%358$76,442$258,900$194 larger
Grangeville, ID 83530 91%1,043$79,477$324,000$269 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents
Clarkston, WA 99403 91%1,090$71,482$325,300$216 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Swannanoa, NC 28778 90%864$73,408$303,300$256 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
La Grange, TX 78945 90%939$75,446$340,300$168 pricier homes ($69K more)
Oakland, MD 21550 89%862$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Clayton, GA 30525 89%860$65,150$274,200$258 Very close on everything we compare
Hayward, WI 54843 89%257$60,619$243,400$261 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Lake City, MN 55041 89%157$78,672$275,200$221 6 min longer commute
Lander, WY 82520 89%679$76,959$337,700$236 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · younger residents
Whitehall, MI 49461 88%441$83,363$265,300$218 more homeowners
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 88%274$70,644$241,200$176 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Oakhurst, CA 93644 88%1,352$81,196$396,300$250 pricier homes ($125K more) · 5 min longer commute
Tiger, GA 30576 87%862$81,417$324,900$245 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · newer homes
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 87%318$82,783$245,900$201 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Woodruff, WI 54568 87%317$72,589$281,000$223 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Bottineau, ND 58318 87%453$85,729$220,600$176 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Cody, WY 82414 87%698$77,958$435,300$252 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger
Colville, WA 99114 87%1,144$62,711$301,600$225 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger

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.