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 Dubuque, IA 52001

Dubuque: median income $61,643, home value $178,000, $136/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Williamsport, PA 17701 93%709$53,237$183,900$127 Very close on everything we compare
Sheboygan, WI 53081 93%171$64,042$180,100$178 Very close on everything we compare
Winona, MN 55987 93%117$61,624$221,800$157 pricier homes ($44K more)
Moline, IL 61265 93%71$66,933$147,000$131 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Abilene, TX 79605 93%855$62,929$163,600$143 smaller
Appleton, WI 54911 92%167$67,001$216,100$174 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Hastings, NE 68901 92%420$66,585$190,100$109 smaller
Oswego, NY 13126 91%721$65,346$145,400$147 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 5 min longer commute
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 91%483$63,342$167,300$170 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Tiffin, OH 44883 91%398$62,692$163,600$139 smaller
Wausau, WI 54403 91%178$69,030$192,600$149 smaller
Cortland, NY 13045 90%737$69,961$167,500$155 smaller
Endicott, NY 13760 90%747$66,095$162,600$126 older residents
Kingston, PA 18704 90%765$64,444$162,000$129 6 min longer commute
Sandusky, OH 44870 90%416$62,082$163,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45805 90%359$68,842$160,600$141 smaller
Jackson, MI 49203 90%321$56,201$159,100$133 Very close on everything we compare
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 90%143$63,144$180,200$169 5 min longer commute
Rock Island, IL 61201 90%71$59,396$125,600$121 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Rome, NY 13440 89%772$68,207$169,100$157 older residents
Watertown, NY 13601 89%749$58,791$172,600$144 more renters
Quincy, IL 62301 89%182$52,055$135,100$111 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Meadville, PA 16335 88%543$57,591$161,600$133 smaller · older residents
Scranton, PA 18512 88%777$64,708$176,100$130 smaller
Elkhart, IN 46516 88%249$56,492$153,400$147 Very close on everything we compare

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.