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 Denison, IA 51442

Denison: median income $66,767, home value $159,400, $95/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hugoton, KS 67951 93%462$63,527$131,500$103 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Princeton, IN 47670 92%483$64,907$158,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
York, NE 68467 92%140$70,525$194,600$104 pricier homes ($35K more)
Pascagoula, MS 39567 91%889$62,254$139,500$93 5 min longer commute
Elk City, OK 73644 91%506$53,180$155,100$111 Very close on everything we compare
Perryton, TX 79070 91%487$70,915$131,500$88 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min longer commute
Rawlins, WY 82301 91%610$62,841$217,300$126 pricier homes ($58K more)
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 90%175$66,352$176,800$118 older residents
Huron, SD 57350 90%216$66,573$173,000$101 larger · older homes
Glendive, MT 59330 90%579$70,964$185,900$105 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Woodward, OK 73801 90%443$58,877$169,100$104 larger · 6 min longer commute
Monahans, TX 79756 90%832$67,468$160,600— 7 min longer commute
Ashland, WI 54806 89%388$64,864$185,800$112 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Thief River Falls, MN 56701 89%423$78,599$196,000$129 pricier homes ($37K more)
Hannibal, MO 63401 89%262$60,036$152,100$116 larger
Marshall, MO 65340 89%227$58,118$156,100$129 larger
Schuyler, NE 68661 89%96$83,279$155,200$95 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, NE 68850 89%243$69,238$161,400$116 more renters
Fort Stockton, TX 79735 89%874$78,935$174,500$94 6 min longer commute
Pecos, TX 79772 89%860$63,347$120,400— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Lamar, CO 81052 89%470$58,875$158,800$121 Very close on everything we compare
Grants, NM 87020 89%824$62,746$154,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Lowville, NY 13367 88%1,014$67,873$171,000$119 less walkable
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351 88%630$67,606$170,400$148 Very close on everything we compare
Vincennes, IN 47591 88%474$61,803$157,400$106 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.