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 Ridgeway, IA 52165

Ridgeway: median income $85,227, home value $292,200, $141/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedarville, NJ 08311 85%912$86,324$247,600$137 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Humphrey, NE 68642 85%302$93,798$266,400$191 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Wolcott, IN 47995 81%310$80,179$161,800$133 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger
Utica, NE 68456 81%319$89,550$202,900$137 cheaper homes ($89K less) · newer homes
Wilber, NE 68465 81%321$91,964$204,600$121 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 80%454$77,083$208,700$140 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · older residents
Juda, WI 53550 80%136$73,438$228,900— cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Mead, NE 68041 80%270$74,000$251,300— cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Brandon, WI 53919 79%164$97,019$223,400$150 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older residents
Hanska, MN 56041 79%138$80,833$197,700$151 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Albion, NE 68620 79%325$83,450$231,700$169 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · older residents
Hampton, NE 68843 79%343$92,778$250,000$140 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · newer homes
Grace, ID 83241 79%998$71,298$215,200$182 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · older residents
Pennock, MN 56279 78%202$84,000$231,700$176 cheaper homes ($61K less) · newer homes
Forrest, IL 61741 78%255$87,850$167,700$99 cheaper homes ($125K less) · 5 min longer commute
Cairo, NE 68824 78%374$77,989$219,900$115 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Otis, CO 80743 78%602$67,734$226,300$154 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 10 min longer commute
Luckey, OH 43443 77%454$97,917$207,100$115 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 6 min longer commute
New Ross, IN 47968 77%355$83,242$213,400$230 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 8 min longer commute
South Wayne, WI 53587 77%118$90,250$203,900$100 cheaper homes ($88K less) · older residents
Wonewoc, WI 53968 77%91$74,479$207,600$198 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Stewart, MN 55385 77%157$78,125$206,300$111 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 9 min longer commute · newer homes
Mapleton, MN 56065 77%107$92,933$223,100$146 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Raymond, MN 56282 77%199$69,896$201,400$110 cheaper homes ($91K less) · newer homes
Pierce, NE 68767 77%290$81,761$233,500$138 cheaper homes ($59K 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.