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 Waucoma, IA 52171

Waucoma: median income $94,904, home value $192,100, $71/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Riegel, OH 44853 95%467$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($36K less)
Poneto, IN 46781 94%386$87,768$192,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
South Wayne, WI 53587 93%113$90,250$203,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Homer, IL 61849 88%296$86,250$159,900$106 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Shelby, NE 68662 88%305$89,706$168,900$93 Very close on everything we compare
Wyoming, NY 14591 87%705$85,804$163,500$96 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute
Remington, IN 47977 87%296$80,000$167,100$87 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Juda, WI 53550 87%132$73,438$228,900— pricier homes ($37K more)
Edinburg, IL 62531 87%271$98,125$134,800$96 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Stewart, MN 55385 86%167$78,125$206,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Brownsdale, MN 55918 86%63$78,523$163,700$104 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Morrisonville, IL 62546 86%284$89,821$119,000$79 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents
Hershey, NE 69143 86%478$90,625$197,900$105 newer homes
Dakota, IL 61018 85%134$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($34K less)
Durhamville, NY 13054 84%824$94,100$227,500$96 pricier homes ($35K more)
Lyndonville, NY 14098 84%687$91,042$136,700$93 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Stryker, OH 43557 84%404$84,950$158,900$104 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Morocco, IN 47963 84%277$75,000$204,200$84 larger · 6 min longer commute
Alden, MN 56009 84%88$80,804$203,700$108 older residents
Odell, IL 60460 84%228$91,154$156,100$121 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Cerro Gordo, IL 61818 84%278$84,375$116,100$86 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Mead, NE 68041 84%260$74,000$251,300— pricier homes ($59K more)
Bryant, WI 54418 83%212$80,000$195,100— newer homes
Milladore, WI 54454 83%152$82,589$170,200$129 Very close on everything we compare
Glenville, MN 56036 83%71$73,287$182,400$98 older residents

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.