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 Arcadia, IA 51430

Arcadia: median income $76,250, home value $146,300, $158/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scipio Center, NY 13147 92%941$74,934$155,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Wolcott, IN 47995 89%425$80,179$161,800$133 larger · older residents
Stone Creek, OH 43840 87%707$63,750$154,200$185 newer homes
Elnora, IN 47529 86%472$69,135$129,700$165 more walkable · newer homes
Happy, TX 79042 86%626$70,590$148,500$161 newer homes
Shiloh, OH 44878 80%652$74,821$179,500$138 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · newer homes
Greens Fork, IN 47345 80%542$73,750$155,600$136 older residents
Clarkson, NE 68629 80%109$78,438$132,800— older residents
Garber, OK 73738 80%411$79,643$115,000— cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · newer homes
Hamlet, IN 46532 79%438$84,866$145,100$138 larger · 9 min longer commute
Odonnell, TX 79351 79%729$66,853$98,900— cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Withee, WI 54498 78%300$75,833$153,500$104 larger · older residents · newer homes
Renville, MN 56284 78%188$72,500$162,500$116 larger · older residents · newer homes
Forrest, IL 61741 78%355$87,850$167,700$99 older residents
Elgin, NE 68636 78%156$78,056$113,800— cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Wisner, NE 68791 78%97$69,018$165,300$137 larger · older residents
Mentone, IN 46539 77%469$74,079$159,000$163 larger · older residents · newer homes
Clarks Hill, IN 47930 77%450$60,719$149,400$135 older residents · newer homes
Welcome, MN 56181 77%114$55,750$114,100$178 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Salisbury, PA 15558 76%847$64,038$142,000$113 larger · older residents
Cygnet, OH 43413 76%591$80,069$139,700$137 older residents
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 76%716$81,625$159,300$191 larger · 11 min longer commute
Convoy, OH 45832 76%539$83,000$161,200$186 larger · older residents · newer homes
Unity, WI 54488 76%304$63,571$142,400$116 older residents · newer homes
Wilton, WI 54670 76%259$82,250$228,900$161 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · 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.