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.

Reset

Towns most like Elgin, IA 52141

Elgin: median income $64,647, home value $115,500, $99/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edgeley, ND 58433 96%419$70,375$116,400$89 Very close on everything we compare
Island Falls, ME 04747 94%1,167$56,795$120,200$111 Very close on everything we compare
Kenmare, ND 58746 93%640$70,263$149,700$87 pricier homes ($34K more)
Walton, IN 46994 92%318$56,563$136,200$102 larger
Mellen, WI 54546 92%236$70,104$141,900$85 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Tyndall, SD 57066 91%314$56,389$112,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Clark, SD 57225 91%330$66,875$155,100$77 pricier homes ($40K more)
Tilden, NE 68781 91%321$67,212$171,700— pricier homes ($56K more)
Hay Springs, NE 69347 91%559$76,133$116,300— older homes
Stoystown, PA 15563 90%684$62,411$139,600$128 larger
Sidman, PA 15955 90%690$59,327$111,800$85 larger · 6 min longer commute
Clarendon, PA 16313 90%642$53,947$97,200$76 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasantville, PA 16341 90%624$61,818$121,800$148 Very close on everything we compare
Polk, PA 16342 90%609$63,750$114,700$123 larger · 6 min longer commute
Scarbro, WV 25917 90%650$60,407$88,700$113 cheaper homes ($27K less)
La Fontaine, IN 46940 90%344$64,089$128,100$127 larger
Hurley, WI 54534 90%251$53,468$123,600$121 larger
Madison, MN 56256 90%265$65,521$124,200$119 larger
Twin Valley, MN 56584 90%372$69,625$131,600$85 7 min longer commute
Kimball, SD 57355 90%371$63,125$144,200— pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Baileyville, ME 04694 89%1,205$65,417$130,000$133 larger
Lyons Falls, NY 13368 89%819$62,159$128,700$147 Very close on everything we compare
Wilcox, PA 15870 89%669$63,750$126,800— 6 min longer commute
Smethport, PA 16749 89%676$72,250$120,100$84 larger
Genesee, PA 16923 89%705$73,864$173,900— pricier homes ($58K more)

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.