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 Cascade, IA 52033

Cascade: median income $69,023, home value $214,100, $127/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jay, ME 04239 94%1,053$70,238$168,600$126 cheaper homes ($46K less)
New York Mills, MN 56567 94%366$72,500$215,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Ball, LA 71405 94%755$76,318$179,400$139 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Piffard, NY 14533 93%668$68,170$184,900$138 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Jackson Center, OH 45334 93%383$70,595$196,800$156 smaller
Blair, OK 73526 93%686$65,536$221,600$114 smaller
Stonewall, OK 74871 93%606$70,838$177,800$145 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Locke, NY 13092 92%744$78,056$192,700$148 Very close on everything we compare
Eastaboga, AL 36260 92%660$73,007$160,900$157 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Myrtle, MS 38650 92%545$65,000$184,900$126 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Towanda, KS 67144 92%443$73,589$173,500$140 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Blossom, TX 75416 92%639$75,735$202,500$132 older residents
Kemmerer, WY 83101 92%1,000$76,947$191,200$125 Very close on everything we compare
Newport Center, VT 05857 91%952$71,683$244,400$108 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
West Point, GA 31833 91%728$61,348$172,200$143 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Rossville, IN 46065 91%263$80,104$216,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Tolono, IL 61880 91%214$85,536$227,900$147 Very close on everything we compare
Chapman, KS 67431 91%389$82,500$199,500$117 Very close on everything we compare
Lavaca, AR 72941 91%508$73,558$169,600$143 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Perryville, KY 40468 90%453$64,081$172,200$139 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
Owensville, IN 47665 90%327$68,625$200,300$119 7 min longer commute
Potterville, MI 48876 90%321$74,594$186,900$137 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Bagley, MN 56621 90%419$63,721$185,000$140 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Cass Lake, MN 56633 90%392$67,981$166,400$105 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Roseau, MN 56751 90%499$77,279$196,300$108 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.