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 Palo, IA 52324

Palo: median income $115,917, home value $327,400, $200/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mayer, MN 55360 96%224$122,117$354,600$193 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Sobieski, WI 54171 93%261$113,698$349,100$217 larger
Henryville, IN 47126 92%398$106,875$276,100$175 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Memphis, IN 47143 92%402$138,382$272,600$175 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Andale, KS 67001 91%427$98,661$357,300$178 pricier homes ($30K more)
Commercial Point, OH 43116 90%482$113,229$351,800$184 younger residents
Ellerslie, GA 31807 89%754$109,345$323,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Jacob, IL 62281 89%253$132,000$308,900$174 Very close on everything we compare
Moreland, GA 30259 88%717$104,375$367,600$198 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Kimberly, AL 35091 88%632$100,375$321,300$151 larger
Little Suamico, WI 54141 88%265$101,553$288,400$216 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Dover, MN 55929 88%137$118,977$332,300$166 smaller · older homes
Sorrento, LA 70778 88%820$101,967$253,000$151 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Eagle, MI 48822 87%362$91,299$300,900$176 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Waverly, MN 55390 87%236$103,750$348,300$183 larger · 8 min longer commute
Troy, VA 22974 86%769$112,344$368,900$271 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Sandy Hook, VA 23153 86%792$122,096$462,500$245 pricier homes ($135K more)
Coxs Creek, KY 40013 86%439$100,226$265,300$181 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Cable, OH 43009 86%443$102,841$258,300$156 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older homes
Raymond, OH 43067 86%448$95,903$303,100$194 older homes
Lithopolis, OH 43136 86%493$114,375$335,400$187 Very close on everything we compare
Zanesfield, OH 43360 86%440$105,795$232,100$240 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Haskins, OH 43525 86%418$108,672$241,300$179 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Elko New Market, MN 55020 86%191$131,071$455,500$211 pricier homes ($128K more) · larger
Mapleton, ND 58059 86%424$115,469$331,800$201 Very close on everything we compare

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.