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 Pacific Junction, IA 51561

Pacific Junction: median income $113,421, home value $388,800, $139/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oldenburg, IN 47036 90%569$98,300$413,700— Very close on everything we compare
Amherst Junction, WI 54407 88%408$101,563$323,900$139 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Lohman, MO 65053 86%250$120,870$341,400$144 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Modena, NY 12548 85%1,124$132,083$428,800— pricier homes ($40K more)
Hickman, TN 38567 84%633$100,368$340,500— cheaper homes ($48K less) · 7 min longer commute
Ventress, LA 70783 84%756$103,583$386,100$170 larger · 6 min longer commute
Waverly, AL 36879 82%805$93,029$325,900$202 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Orrington, ME 04474 81%1,385$94,556$309,000$192 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Penn Laird, VA 22846 81%922$115,491$450,000$209 pricier homes ($61K more) · more single-family homes
Laotto, IN 46763 81%552$97,054$270,800$155 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Crooks, SD 57020 81%190$101,500$320,400$169 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Goodfield, IL 61742 81%342$111,875$240,000$87 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Easton, MO 64443 81%107$86,042$300,000— lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($89K less)
Saratoga, WY 82331 81%569$95,610$363,800$206 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · older homes
Spofford, NH 03462 80%1,205$115,313$396,200$210 larger · more renters
New Haven, VT 05472 80%1,167$92,537$378,000$217 larger
New Woodstock, NY 13122 80%1,030$81,500$282,300$149 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($107K less)
Mount Sidney, VA 24467 80%914$93,851$386,300$180 larger · older residents
Mount Ulla, NC 28125 80%897$85,739$360,700$183 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Spangle, WA 99031 80%1,152$98,182$423,500$176 pricier homes ($35K more) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Mount Crawford, VA 22841 79%916$92,862$370,500$207 larger
Blue Mounds, WI 53517 79%335$84,722$445,000$193 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Thompson, ND 58278 79%471$111,250$313,400$209 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older homes
Linn Creek, MO 65052 79%264$87,125$350,700$191 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Rocheport, MO 65279 79%225$103,516$332,700$211 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older residents

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.