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 Iowa City, IA 52246

Iowa City: median income $62,521, home value $348,900, $176/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gainesville, FL 32608 92%977$61,588$358,200$206 larger
State College, PA 16803 88%712$73,532$413,700$195 pricier homes ($65K more)
Lawrence, KS 66047 87%270$65,392$342,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Blacksburg, VA 24060 86%666$67,675$447,600$237 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
East Lansing, MI 48823 84%371$52,018$282,600$173 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Clemson, SC 29631 83%675$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents
State College, PA 16801 82%714$61,836$414,600$228 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · more walkable
Laramie, WY 82072 82%719$53,863$324,100$200 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27606 81%802$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46240 80%309$75,156$348,000$207 older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46250 80%312$67,328$327,600$155 older residents
West Lafayette, IN 47906 80%256$53,103$323,200$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Durham, NC 27705 78%781$73,066$455,000$261 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger · older residents
Orono, ME 04473 77%1,167$61,528$272,600$198 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Gainesville, FL 32607 77%974$45,987$321,900$180 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Bloomington, IN 47401 77%317$66,906$364,600$191 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 76%994$55,219$348,600$220 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Ithaca, NY 14850 76%774$71,445$353,500$228 larger · less walkable · older homes
Carrboro, NC 27510 76%779$61,837$449,700$282 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller · more renters
Greenville, SC 29607 76%686$74,503$359,500$194 larger · older residents
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 76%777$79,967$324,000$182 older residents
Logan, UT 84341 76%1,042$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($117K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22903 75%736$69,340$526,200$304 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger
Morgantown, WV 26505 75%624$45,536$278,000$170 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · more renters
Jacksonville, FL 32256 75%966$73,570$382,500$212 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 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.