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 Earlville, IA 52041

Earlville: median income $89,697, home value $188,800, $115/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Wayne, WI 53587 94%70$90,250$203,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
New Riegel, OH 44853 93%421$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Homer, IL 61849 93%241$86,250$159,900$106 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Hershey, NE 69143 93%511$90,625$197,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, NJ 08311 92%865$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($59K more)
Stryker, OH 43557 92%359$84,950$158,900$104 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Milladore, WI 54454 92%161$82,589$170,200$129 Very close on everything we compare
Stewart, MN 55385 92%222$78,125$206,300$111 5 min longer commute
Wood River, NE 68883 92%397$90,966$206,000$119 larger
Juda, WI 53550 91%90$73,438$228,900— pricier homes ($40K more)
Kerkhoven, MN 56252 91%275$82,571$207,100$128 Very close on everything we compare
Tiskilwa, IL 61368 91%123$88,214$126,900$121 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Shelby, NE 68662 91%330$89,706$168,900$93 6 min longer commute
Cygnet, OH 43413 90%401$80,069$139,700$137 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Sterling, OH 44276 90%498$86,583$231,300$152 pricier homes ($43K more)
Livingston, WI 53554 90%50$74,063$175,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Adrian, MN 56110 90%248$77,875$176,400$103 Very close on everything we compare
Howard, SD 57349 90%334$75,179$153,000$130 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Forrest, IL 61741 90%190$87,850$167,700$99 younger residents
Lucas, OH 44843 89%474$90,366$208,700$127 larger
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 89%397$77,083$208,700$140 Very close on everything we compare
Manawa, WI 54949 89%180$90,786$217,400$139 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Alden, MN 56009 89%141$80,804$203,700$108 older residents
Morgan, MN 56266 89%225$74,000$143,400$116 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Odell, IL 60460 89%174$91,154$156,100$121 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 5 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.