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 Kalona, IA 52247

Kalona: median income $91,450, home value $298,900, $151/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wahoo, NE 68066 94%256$101,438$266,900$166 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Seward, NE 68434 94%283$81,466$271,900$138 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Tolono, IL 61880 93%208$85,536$227,900$147 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Omaha, NE 68157 93%223$98,015$239,000$153 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Bridgewater, VA 22812 92%706$85,941$366,900$206 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 92%311$80,156$292,000$174 larger
La Fayette, NY 13084 91%803$91,389$227,200$157 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Spring Arbor, MI 49283 91%372$108,464$218,400$172 cheaper homes ($81K less)
New Wilmington, PA 16142 90%591$84,205$226,300$153 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Leola, PA 17540 90%816$91,895$339,200$185 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
New Concord, OH 43762 90%531$80,709$241,500$168 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Nashport, OH 43830 90%512$88,346$234,100$186 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Eagle Lake, MN 56024 90%215$95,357$285,600$162 smaller · newer homes
Lansing, KS 66043 90%228$103,060$271,200$153 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Oberlin, OH 44074 89%492$80,801$234,200$151 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Rootstown, OH 44272 89%546$83,173$261,300$170 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 7 min longer commute
Coopersville, MI 49404 89%314$86,096$295,100$195 larger
Galesville, WI 54630 89%181$95,549$272,300$153 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Eleva, WI 54738 89%216$95,179$290,400$191 smaller · more single-family homes
Elk Mound, WI 54739 89%234$88,667$260,400$180 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Baldwin, WI 54002 88%243$88,275$309,200$200 7 min longer commute
Saint Charles, MN 55972 88%172$98,878$287,800$166 Very close on everything we compare
Blair, NE 68008 88%231$89,583$270,800$157 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older residents
Omaha, NE 68138 88%231$86,007$237,200$189 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · newer homes
Douglas, WY 82633 88%706$82,412$296,700$168 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.