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 Newhall, IA 52315

Newhall: median income $77,656, home value $196,100, $127/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sherwood, OH 43556 96%387$73,125$195,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Stewart, MN 55385 96%226$78,125$206,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomington, WI 53804 95%82$82,917$165,800$114 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Adrian, MN 56110 95%230$77,875$176,400$103 Very close on everything we compare
Livingston, WI 53554 94%100$74,063$175,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Jones, MI 49061 93%316$79,229$223,500$161 pricier homes ($27K more)
Lyndon, KS 66451 93%303$76,908$158,500$123 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Shelton, NE 68876 93%361$82,207$163,800$108 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Wood River, NE 68883 93%353$90,966$206,000$119 larger
North Rose, NY 14516 92%770$76,000$172,400$114 larger
Holland, IN 47541 92%368$78,409$156,800— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Milladore, WI 54454 92%209$82,589$170,200$129 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Avon, SD 57315 92%316$73,750$169,600$157 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Forreston, IL 61030 92%123$71,655$157,200$130 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Forrest, IL 61741 92%204$87,850$167,700$99 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Homer, IL 61849 92%249$86,250$159,900$106 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Camp Point, IL 62320 92%144$77,143$167,400$138 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Weeping Water, NE 68463 92%230$85,972$199,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, NJ 08311 91%897$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($52K more)
Saranac, NY 12981 91%933$76,450$182,300$166 larger
Valley View, PA 17983 91%805$72,411$158,700$101 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Sterling, OH 44276 91%530$86,583$231,300$152 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Berlin Heights, OH 44814 91%492$68,702$193,600$143 larger
Mooreland, IN 47360 91%377$76,250$187,200$167 Very close on everything we compare
Morgan, MN 56266 91%222$74,000$143,400$116 cheaper homes ($53K less)

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.