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 Riverside, IA 52327

Riverside: median income $86,942, home value $298,800, $146/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Carlisle, IN 46552 94%263$91,341$237,900$168 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
West Point, VA 23181 93%830$95,699$290,600$191 Very close on everything we compare
Blanchardville, WI 53516 93%127$85,324$306,600$157 smaller · older residents
Eyota, MN 55934 93%179$84,952$327,700$163 pricier homes ($29K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Henderson, MN 56044 93%243$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Hinckley, IL 60520 93%153$98,958$320,500$190 Very close on everything we compare
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 92%785$97,896$303,200$175 larger
Rio, WI 53960 92%180$84,911$282,100$160 Very close on everything we compare
Beresford, SD 57004 92%288$88,750$264,100$168 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Ashland, NE 68003 92%252$95,709$306,500$185 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, IN 46118 91%294$78,298$276,900$166 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, MI 49236 91%395$79,783$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Spring Valley, WI 54767 91%235$83,917$265,000$190 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Young America, MN 55397 91%258$81,957$352,800$166 pricier homes ($54K more)
Lawson, MO 64062 91%197$92,277$274,400$163 larger
Gower, MO 64454 91%205$87,262$260,800$151 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Cresco, PA 18326 90%845$85,352$285,300$215 Very close on everything we compare
Clear Spring, MD 21722 90%727$88,232$312,500$195 larger
Perry, MI 48872 90%387$79,333$236,700$160 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Breese, IL 62230 90%225$91,350$229,300$153 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Weston, MO 64098 90%225$92,661$317,600$186 Very close on everything we compare
Benton, KS 67017 90%389$88,750$259,400$150 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Winterport, ME 04496 89%1,162$98,333$283,000$197 Very close on everything we compare
Millerstown, PA 17062 89%755$90,893$233,000$209 cheaper homes ($66K less)
York Springs, PA 17372 89%763$82,313$282,700$158 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.