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 North Liberty, IA 52317

North Liberty: median income $105,318, home value $322,800, $175/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksonville, FL 32258 91%977$102,204$370,700$197 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Fayetteville, AR 72704 90%417$96,014$331,100$212 more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78259 90%920$114,156$380,800$171 pricier homes ($58K more)
Morgantown, WV 26508 89%629$90,041$311,500$174 larger
Lexington, KY 40509 89%460$94,804$366,300$191 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 89%157$97,051$379,500$224 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
California, MD 20619 88%831$119,432$376,800$212 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Suffolk, VA 23435 88%876$111,700$394,500$215 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents
Hilliard, OH 43026 88%458$111,440$347,900$212 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Fishers, IN 46038 88%317$106,886$333,200$170 larger · more single-family homes
Chaska, MN 55318 88%234$112,243$420,400$211 pricier homes ($98K more)
Birmingham, AL 35244 87%636$113,450$412,000$176 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Sycamore, IL 60178 87%151$92,913$279,500$197 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
O Fallon, IL 62269 87%237$103,818$291,800$148 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Lafayette, LA 70508 87%801$86,005$305,300$163 larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73142 87%534$81,818$364,300$178 pricier homes ($42K more)
Raleigh, NC 27603 86%812$90,484$383,200$209 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Tallahassee, FL 32311 86%885$81,243$321,600$207 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64155 86%231$97,471$300,900$189 more single-family homes
Manhattan, KS 66503 86%315$97,846$339,100$153 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68116 86%237$121,165$342,200$172 more single-family homes
Amarillo, TX 79119 86%726$114,432$366,000$191 pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Pineville, NC 28134 85%740$85,681$383,800$230 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Bismarck, ND 58503 85%574$102,333$393,700$196 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · older residents
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 85%787$92,098$365,000$186 pricier homes ($42K 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.