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 Farley, IA 52046

Farley: median income $96,151, home value $273,600, $137/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodburn, KY 42170 92%453$96,111$291,700$114 smaller
Tolono, IL 61880 91%222$85,536$227,900$147 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Cimarron, KS 67835 90%587$79,877$215,900$117 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Elm Creek, NE 68836 90%448$86,806$224,800$115 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
White Oak, TX 75693 90%716$102,146$222,400$164 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Galesville, WI 54630 89%115$95,549$272,300$153 older residents
Spring Arbor, MI 49283 88%330$108,464$218,400$172 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Nicollet, MN 56074 88%204$92,813$293,700$160 smaller
Wahoo, NE 68066 88%301$101,438$266,900$166 larger
Burlington, ND 58722 87%646$85,417$275,000$159 smaller
Omaha, NE 68157 87%271$98,015$239,000$153 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Milford, NE 68405 87%333$75,250$244,600$153 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Arcadia, IN 46030 86%302$90,536$246,000$179 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Hayfield, MN 55940 86%135$83,885$245,900$154 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Lewiston, MN 55952 86%114$91,389$228,200$139 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Black River, NY 13612 85%772$85,658$203,700$146 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Wanchese, NC 27981 85%938$88,750$311,800$185 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · newer homes
Rootstown, OH 44272 85%513$83,173$261,300$170 larger
Bangor, WI 54614 85%98$85,588$250,300$171 older residents
Le Center, MN 56057 85%191$91,250$248,300$161 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents
Washburn, ND 58577 85%593$74,471$260,100$145 smaller
Velva, ND 58790 85%619$83,233$224,600$108 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint Marys, KS 66536 85%347$85,568$224,600$151 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Brusly, LA 70719 85%833$105,522$233,100$163 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miles, TX 76861 85%902$85,714$218,200$171 cheaper homes ($55K 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.