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 Logan, IA 51546

Logan: median income $86,910, home value $207,900, $163/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Liberty, IN 46554 95%484$88,068$203,000$154 Very close on everything we compare
Blissfield, MI 49228 93%614$82,703$196,500$179 larger
Ellendale, MN 56026 92%199$100,169$232,700$181 Very close on everything we compare
Woodville, OH 43469 90%642$86,410$205,500$161 newer homes
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215 90%721$80,893$222,900$199 newer homes
Spiceland, IN 47385 90%556$103,406$211,200$161 smaller
Ladoga, IN 47954 90%485$81,364$188,200$140 Very close on everything we compare
Kenyon, MN 55946 90%228$85,781$261,300$178 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents
West Concord, MN 55985 90%227$83,636$245,200$141 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · newer homes
Thorntown, IN 46071 89%492$85,000$240,200$154 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · newer homes
Madelia, MN 56062 89%180$76,713$182,500$142 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Mapleton, MN 56065 89%184$92,933$223,100$146 7 min shorter commute
Fredericktown, PA 15333 88%832$89,333$185,600$112 smaller
Barnesville, PA 18214 88%1,025$82,375$208,000$163 older residents · newer homes
Milford Center, OH 43045 88%652$99,181$275,000$176 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Helena, OH 43435 88%645$89,000$176,400$167 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · newer homes
Deerfield, MI 49238 88%618$75,054$208,200$163 smaller
Brandon, WI 53919 88%384$97,019$223,400$150 6 min shorter commute
Kendall, NY 14476 87%911$90,536$188,800$192 newer homes
Shirley, IN 47384 87%550$74,167$158,300$152 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Fowler, MI 48835 87%571$81,964$214,400$158 6 min shorter commute
Canistota, SD 57012 87%154$94,375$180,200$199 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Clifton, IL 60927 87%411$102,143$213,700$144 newer homes
Downey, ID 83234 87%838$81,083$229,300$178 smaller · newer homes
Monroeville, OH 44847 86%678$76,060$187,500$157 7 min shorter commute

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.