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 Marion, IA 52302

Marion: median income $87,983, home value $244,400, $146/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Augusta, GA 30907 94%784$81,912$242,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40299 94%417$89,440$290,200$176 pricier homes ($46K more)
Louisville, KY 40291 92%417$81,267$276,900$170 pricier homes ($33K more)
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 92%335$85,833$258,700$150 Very close on everything we compare
Onalaska, WI 54650 91%130$85,548$291,600$189 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68164 91%238$88,927$255,900$167 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79423 91%813$84,933$234,400$149 younger residents
Louisville, KY 40228 90%415$79,404$241,300$157 smaller
Grove City, OH 43123 90%468$91,008$284,700$199 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Painesville, OH 44077 90%535$85,056$221,200$168 older homes
Appleton, WI 54915 90%223$87,426$269,700$187 pricier homes ($25K more)
Belleville, IL 62221 90%257$82,271$217,500$136 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more renters
Liberty, MO 64068 90%243$92,297$284,500$181 pricier homes ($40K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73162 90%552$88,031$254,900$133 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79424 90%815$97,231$296,300$153 pricier homes ($52K more)
Absecon, NJ 08205 89%913$93,370$292,400$208 pricier homes ($48K more)
York, PA 17402 89%791$81,166$250,400$166 older homes
Winterville, NC 28590 89%886$83,880$266,400$159 smaller · less walkable
Maumee, OH 43537 89%410$82,752$253,300$172 older homes
Oshkosh, WI 54904 89%204$93,341$281,000$175 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · older residents
Bourbonnais, IL 60914 89%201$86,223$255,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Peters, MO 63376 89%231$96,393$275,400$178 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Blue Springs, MO 64015 89%253$84,518$268,900$160 7 min longer commute
Derby, KS 67037 89%432$85,541$242,100$142 less walkable
Houma, LA 70360 89%861$84,890$286,000$157 pricier homes ($42K more)

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.