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 Crescent, IA 51526

Crescent: median income $95,179, home value $334,300, $206/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington Boro, PA 17582 96%1,018$100,263$304,800$211 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Mazeppa, MN 55956 95%261$98,558$341,600$188 Very close on everything we compare
Rollingstone, MN 55969 95%278$94,444$291,800$157 cheaper homes ($43K less)
North Salem, IN 46165 94%493$86,488$346,500$226 Very close on everything we compare
Galway, NY 12074 93%1,119$94,583$304,800$234 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Swoope, VA 24479 93%910$80,583$390,400$191 pricier homes ($56K more)
Ringle, WI 54471 93%405$87,368$290,100$198 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Coon Valley, WI 54623 93%294$88,864$276,400$181 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Cleveland, MN 56017 93%228$88,056$330,900$211 Very close on everything we compare
Hoyt, KS 66440 93%146$97,109$234,700$226 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Hampton, CT 06247 92%1,225$108,854$293,000$263 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Julian, NC 27283 92%948$90,402$290,700$251 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Malone, WI 53049 92%421$93,424$286,000$261 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Waldo, WI 53093 92%430$101,429$274,800$223 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Kansasville, WI 53139 92%406$99,635$305,500$285 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Fremont, WI 54940 92%406$90,813$307,100$208 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Welch, MN 55089 92%273$108,750$384,800$238 pricier homes ($51K more)
Britt, MN 55710 92%462$86,477$280,400$170 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Carlton, MN 55718 92%401$96,546$319,100$198 larger
Garfield, MN 56332 92%320$87,917$281,400$273 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Richmond, MN 56368 92%290$97,407$321,100$254 larger
Soulsbyville, CA 95372 92%1,316$97,398$408,300$255 pricier homes ($74K more)
Schaghticoke, NY 12154 91%1,140$106,136$251,300$197 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Stoutsville, OH 43154 91%694$91,250$250,700$228 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Marshallville, OH 44645 91%734$84,756$230,400$212 cheaper homes ($104K less) · 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.