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 Delmar, IA 52037

Delmar: median income $90,813, home value $198,400, $91/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wyoming, NY 14591 96%641$85,804$163,500$96 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Milton, IN 47357 95%324$99,028$155,800$92 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Luckey, OH 43443 92%370$97,917$207,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
New Riegel, OH 44853 92%383$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Odell, IL 60460 92%127$91,154$156,100$121 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Reynolds, IL 61279 92%46$87,656$161,500$128 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cedar Bluffs, NE 68015 92%310$85,357$176,600$119 Very close on everything we compare
Durhamville, NY 13054 91%763$94,100$227,500$96 pricier homes ($29K more) · 5 min shorter commute
West Manchester, OH 45382 91%344$95,652$200,000$77 Very close on everything we compare
Homer, IL 61849 91%193$86,250$159,900$106 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Brownsdale, MN 55918 90%166$78,523$163,700$104 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Amboy, MN 56010 90%223$80,156$167,900$111 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Shelby, NE 68662 90%356$89,706$168,900$93 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
North Rose, NY 14516 89%701$76,000$172,400$114 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Ladoga, IN 47954 89%245$81,364$188,200$140 larger
South Wayne, WI 53587 89%55$90,250$203,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Winthrop, MN 55396 89%258$75,680$201,800$116 larger
Elizabeth, IL 61028 89%30$86,053$174,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Lynn Center, IL 61262 89%51$86,250$244,700$119 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Sheffield, IL 61361 89%62$91,250$147,200$88 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Tonica, IL 61370 89%95$91,094$155,100$130 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Mc Lean, IL 61754 89%138$98,681$162,500$110 cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Fredericktown, PA 15333 88%570$89,333$185,600$112 larger · 6 min longer commute
Poneto, IN 46781 88%293$87,768$192,900$85 newer homes
Munger, MI 48747 88%363$81,458$141,300$109 cheaper homes ($57K less)

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.