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.

Reset

Towns most like Swisher, IA 52338

Swisher: median income $119,605, home value $392,700, $170/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hartsburg, MO 65039 98%217$125,714$412,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Oronoco, MN 55960 93%166$130,227$481,200$214 pricier homes ($89K more)
Richland, MI 49083 92%322$105,496$348,100$170 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Cologne, MN 55322 92%229$124,861$426,200$181 pricier homes ($34K more)
Penn Laird, VA 22846 91%721$115,491$450,000$209 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 91%388$119,410$359,500$167 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Mantorville, MN 55955 91%164$132,524$405,700$240 smaller
Bishop, GA 30621 90%711$117,917$463,600$208 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Cataula, GA 31804 90%736$103,095$323,600$164 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Gurley, AL 35748 90%569$103,563$356,300$198 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 90%309$106,250$305,900$181 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older homes
Sherwood, WI 54169 90%236$109,524$351,200$208 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Rochester, IL 62563 90%183$117,255$262,800$136 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 89%408$134,115$339,900$207 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Pittsboro, IN 46167 89%304$122,723$328,600$169 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · younger residents
Greenwood, MO 64034 89%246$120,041$350,900$194 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Ellerslie, GA 31807 88%739$109,345$323,400$176 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Waverly, AL 36879 88%711$93,029$325,900$202 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less)
Alvaton, KY 42122 88%445$113,705$297,100$192 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Monclova, OH 43542 88%408$148,657$402,000$217 higher income ($29K more)
Roanoke, IN 46783 88%333$101,705$303,700$185 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Alto, MI 49302 88%326$134,722$400,700$216 larger · younger residents
Belmont, MI 49306 88%323$115,039$373,500$214 larger
Bennet, NE 68317 88%263$108,056$294,100$166 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
Quinton, VA 23141 87%827$119,535$397,600$230 larger · 6 min longer commute

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.