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 Shelby, IA 51570

Shelby: median income $77,708, home value $204,700, $144/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Appleton, NY 14008 92%865$77,702$188,700$184 older residents
Waldron, MI 49288 90%568$66,833$147,500$129 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Ashton, IL 61006 89%323$75,938$155,500$107 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Bear Creek, WI 54922 88%397$76,350$218,100$166 older residents · newer homes
Deerfield, MI 49238 87%602$75,054$208,200$163 larger
Otis, CO 80743 87%402$67,734$226,300$154 newer homes
East Bethany, NY 14054 86%889$79,286$172,300$142 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Monroeville, OH 44847 85%661$76,060$187,500$157 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Dakota, IL 61018 85%309$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($47K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
New Washington, OH 44854 84%655$70,357$146,200$134 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Loganville, WI 53943 84%305$73,000$225,600— newer homes
Sharon Springs, NY 13459 83%1,069$65,893$172,600$173 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · newer homes
Basom, NY 14013 83%876$72,768$160,200$149 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
La Rue, OH 43332 83%632$81,382$146,600$188 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bloomville, OH 44818 83%647$63,922$141,300$116 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Darlington, IN 47940 83%464$70,711$152,100$157 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Woodland, MI 48897 83%534$69,531$224,600$204 more homeowners
Brandon, WI 53919 83%371$97,019$223,400$150 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Boyd, WI 54726 83%324$78,500$192,100$114 larger · newer homes
Madelia, MN 56062 83%182$76,713$182,500$142 larger
Scipio Center, NY 13147 82%968$74,934$155,600$152 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Chaffee, NY 14030 82%871$78,182$218,700$209 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Bessemer, PA 16112 82%777$74,821$154,500$114 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Shirley, IN 47384 82%531$74,167$158,300$152 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more homeowners
Blissfield, MI 49228 82%597$82,703$196,500$179 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.