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 Neola, IA 51559

Neola: median income $74,761, home value $201,800, $123/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 94%601$77,083$208,700$140 older residents
Stanton, NE 68779 94%85$78,594$203,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Republic, OH 44867 93%657$72,716$167,000$96 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Shullsburg, WI 53586 93%290$70,806$166,100$106 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Lyndon, KS 66451 93%195$76,908$158,500$123 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Ponca, NE 68770 93%93$71,607$199,400$143 older residents
North Rose, NY 14516 92%964$76,000$172,400$114 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners
Pandora, OH 45877 92%610$68,665$179,200$145 Very close on everything we compare
Elroy, WI 53929 92%317$65,568$187,000$130 larger
Pearl City, IL 61062 92%306$66,667$196,900$93 Very close on everything we compare
Hooper, NE 68031 92%45$80,605$208,300$124 Very close on everything we compare
Pender, NE 68047 92%70$87,375$217,000$111 Very close on everything we compare
Randolph, NE 68771 92%107$83,580$162,500— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Otis, CO 80743 92%389$67,734$226,300$154 Very close on everything we compare
Madelia, MN 56062 91%190$76,713$182,500$142 larger
Dakota, IL 61018 91%322$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Wilber, NE 68465 91%95$91,964$204,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Cairo, NE 68824 91%156$77,989$219,900$115 newer homes
Arnold, NE 69120 91%232$69,886$158,200— cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Scipio Center, NY 13147 90%981$74,934$155,600$152 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
East Bethany, NY 14054 90%902$79,286$172,300$142 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 7 min longer commute
Monroeville, OH 44847 90%673$76,060$187,500$157 larger · older homes
Rockford, OH 45882 90%576$74,625$161,700$143 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Morgan, MN 56266 90%206$74,000$143,400$116 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Cissna Park, IL 60924 90%411$78,250$154,900$94 cheaper homes ($47K less)

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.