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 Mc Gregor, IA 52157

Mc Gregor: median income $52,625, home value $193,500, $130/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 93%719$45,944$165,600$120 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Hot Springs, VA 24445 90%689$51,500$163,700$120 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Loup City, NE 68853 89%416$54,674$135,000$159 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Winona, MO 65588 88%415$44,500$155,900$158 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Stamford, NY 12167 87%841$53,047$193,100$120 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Morrill, NE 69358 87%652$52,159$152,800$137 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents · older homes
Nucla, CO 81424 87%965$39,960$206,000— Very close on everything we compare
Seneca, PA 16346 86%600$59,718$153,700$136 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Ronda, NC 28670 86%720$49,567$155,800$176 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 6 min longer commute
Cartwright, OK 74731 86%696$54,286$158,000$180 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Paint Rock, TX 76866 86%928$56,429$163,100— cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Ione, WA 99139 86%1,314$52,404$274,100$143 pricier homes ($81K more) · more homeowners
Colebrook, NH 03576 85%986$52,682$214,900$204 larger · 5 min longer commute
North Clarendon, VT 05759 85%916$58,150$209,100$199 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisville, MI 48740 85%407$54,393$155,800$133 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more homeowners
Eads, CO 81036 85%673$59,868$173,300— older homes
New Paris, PA 15554 84%679$50,500$273,000$149 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Petersburg, WV 26847 84%687$52,139$180,400$162 larger · younger residents
Crosby, MN 56441 84%277$50,298$208,700$209 larger · 5 min longer commute
Kamiah, ID 83536 84%1,236$53,707$241,800$139 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · more homeowners
Gorham, NH 03581 83%1,003$64,127$196,400$135 larger · 6 min longer commute
Dexter, ME 04930 83%1,094$54,137$168,600$136 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Normalville, PA 15469 83%642$56,301$140,100— cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Strattanville, PA 16258 83%621$55,188$183,800— younger residents · 6 min longer commute
East Freedom, PA 16637 83%683$56,083$120,400$164 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 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.