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 Monona, IA 52159

Monona: median income $74,259, home value $165,400, $110/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Washington, OH 44854 95%461$70,357$146,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Winnebago, MN 56098 94%148$69,000$147,900$103 Very close on everything we compare
Prophetstown, IL 61277 93%122$70,363$148,200$116 newer homes
Mc Graw, NY 13101 91%776$63,587$143,700$112 Very close on everything we compare
Salisbury, PA 15558 91%676$64,038$142,000$113 Very close on everything we compare
Shullsburg, WI 53586 91%67$70,806$166,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Ashton, IL 61006 91%138$75,938$155,500$107 smaller
Monroeville, OH 44847 90%462$76,060$187,500$157 Very close on everything we compare
Port Edwards, WI 54469 90%119$74,038$153,400$108 newer homes
Dakota, IL 61018 90%103$76,471$157,800— smaller
Emerson, NE 68733 90%275$64,479$132,600— cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Waynesburg, OH 44688 89%545$66,444$130,400$146 cheaper homes ($35K less) · newer homes
Rockford, OH 45882 89%383$74,625$161,700$143 newer homes
Kentland, IN 47951 89%255$66,156$115,600$107 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Polo, IL 61064 89%116$75,386$164,400$79 larger
Granville, IL 61326 89%165$70,880$148,100$117 newer homes
Toluca, IL 61369 89%182$68,708$120,400$106 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Bessemer, PA 16112 88%577$74,821$154,500$114 smaller
Valley View, PA 17983 88%781$72,411$158,700$101 smaller · more homeowners
Mount Savage, MD 21545 88%688$60,264$130,700$111 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Bradford, OH 45308 88%412$70,435$171,000$145 larger
Veedersburg, IN 47987 88%294$63,333$145,200$113 larger
Elroy, WI 53929 88%74$65,568$187,000$130 newer homes
Winthrop, MN 55396 88%181$75,680$201,800$116 pricier homes ($36K more)
Howard, SD 57349 88%316$75,179$153,000$130 smaller · newer homes

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.