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 Clarinda, IA 51632

Clarinda: median income $55,055, home value $143,000, $130/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cut Bank, MT 59427 95%1,008$61,094$174,300$115 pricier homes ($31K more)
Houlton, ME 04730 94%1,405$61,980$145,200$128 larger
Brockway, PA 15824 94%846$64,623$155,600$144 Very close on everything we compare
Winchester, IN 47394 94%529$59,913$111,300$114 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Saint Joseph, MO 64503 94%71$53,039$140,500$129 larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64504 94%73$58,801$127,100$112 larger
Raton, NM 87740 94%571$52,815$153,100$114 Very close on everything we compare
Bryan, OH 43506 93%547$60,234$162,000$132 larger
Antigo, WI 54409 93%425$53,576$123,300$133 larger
Gibson City, IL 60936 93%351$51,323$157,200$146 smaller
Brookfield, MO 64628 93%123$59,361$123,500$110 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, NE 68352 93%120$55,370$132,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Perry, OK 73077 93%331$62,763$132,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Girard, OH 44420 92%748$61,707$121,100$122 larger
Clintonville, WI 54929 92%417$64,626$167,100$134 5 min longer commute
La Salle, IL 61301 92%312$60,328$129,000$104 larger
Beatrice, NE 68310 92%95$60,928$168,000$118 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Cozad, NE 69130 92%259$63,388$154,300$126 Very close on everything we compare
Hamilton, TX 76531 92%650$49,100$126,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Ford, CO 81067 92%500$50,028$154,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Sharpsville, PA 16150 91%760$56,334$148,200$147 older residents
Canton, OH 44706 91%712$58,228$143,800$142 larger
Bucyrus, OH 44820 91%631$58,223$141,400$132 larger
Hibbing, MN 55746 91%472$55,823$134,600$116 larger
Granite Falls, MN 56241 91%282$66,875$155,600$113 smaller

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.