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 52002

Dubuque: median income $91,036, home value $298,900, $173/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tyler, TX 75707 94%746$84,954$274,900$173 Very close on everything we compare
Holland, OH 43528 93%365$93,986$276,100$165 5 min longer commute
Oshkosh, WI 54904 93%150$93,341$281,000$175 older residents
Fort Smith, AR 72916 93%538$87,983$263,700$173 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Hewitt, TX 76643 93%842$83,511$273,300$176 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Jamestown, NC 27282 92%732$91,512$312,900$169 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MO 65810 92%397$95,160$305,600$178 older residents
Woodway, TX 76712 92%840$97,903$340,600$179 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Winterville, NC 28590 91%862$83,880$266,400$159 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Dothan, AL 36305 91%832$84,302$251,000$153 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Bowling Green, KY 42103 91%447$87,689$331,400$182 pricier homes ($33K more) · more renters
Sellersburg, IN 47172 91%385$82,503$273,500$162 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 5 min longer commute
West Salem, WI 54669 91%98$103,194$312,300$168 smaller
Houma, LA 70360 91%893$84,890$286,000$157 larger · 5 min longer commute
Wichita Falls, TX 76310 91%733$82,183$224,600$153 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Bridgeport, WV 26330 90%591$88,962$271,800$160 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Johnson City, TN 37615 90%611$77,525$294,900$200 6 min longer commute
Tipp City, OH 45371 90%385$93,599$302,300$164 6 min longer commute
Traverse City, MI 49685 90%303$84,590$358,500$261 pricier homes ($60K more)
Stevens Point, WI 54482 90%154$94,500$288,900$173 smaller
Mankato, MN 56003 90%206$82,538$270,400$162 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Alexandria, MN 56308 90%327$78,177$341,900$194 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Sartell, MN 56377 90%276$87,172$302,400$167 younger residents
Lake Charles, LA 70605 90%864$86,015$308,700$142 larger · younger residents
Forest, VA 24551 89%704$91,067$362,500$187 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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.