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 Dunlap, IA 51529

Dunlap: median income $61,599, home value $156,800, $115/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rising Star, TX 76471 92%697$54,773$141,700$142 Very close on everything we compare
Ontonagon, MI 49953 91%462$59,375$119,800$147 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Walton, IN 46994 90%492$56,563$136,200$102 younger residents
Normalville, PA 15469 88%854$56,301$140,100— newer homes
Linton, ND 58552 88%376$65,515$122,000$98 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Morrill, NE 69358 88%426$52,159$152,800$137 younger residents
Sodus, NY 14551 87%948$59,167$123,500$128 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Lowellville, OH 44436 86%782$69,514$143,700$125 larger · younger residents
Madison, MN 56256 86%218$65,521$124,200$119 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Enderlin, ND 58027 86%342$75,774$159,500$129 younger residents
Deposit, NY 13754 85%1,035$61,000$132,400$81 larger · more apartments and townhomes
North Benton, OH 44449 85%758$62,188$163,600$135 younger residents
Brewster, OH 44613 85%732$58,125$147,200$113 younger residents
New Madison, OH 45346 85%584$77,083$161,300$110 younger residents
Lake Linden, MI 49945 85%515$59,453$159,100$162 larger
Park Falls, WI 54552 85%382$61,317$150,700$116 larger · newer homes
Island Falls, ME 04747 84%1,384$56,795$120,200$111 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Richmond, OH 43944 84%779$69,228$167,900$172 younger residents · newer homes
Hurley, WI 54534 84%415$53,468$123,600$121 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
Clark, SD 57225 84%234$66,875$155,100$77 younger residents
Mount Olive, IL 62069 84%364$59,764$102,700$109 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Effingham, KS 66023 84%162$55,759$110,400$102 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Dewey, OK 74029 84%350$57,821$151,400$118 larger · younger residents
Stoystown, PA 15563 83%876$62,411$139,600$128 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Flintstone, MD 21530 83%903$63,542$202,400$137 pricier homes ($46K more) · 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.