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 West Branch, IA 52358

West Branch: median income $91,686, home value $240,300, $152/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lewiston, MN 55952 95%161$91,389$228,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
New Wilmington, PA 16142 93%570$84,205$226,300$153 larger
Rushford, MN 55971 93%150$88,750$231,700$142 Very close on everything we compare
Schuylerville, NY 12871 92%908$96,024$263,600$180 Very close on everything we compare
Arcadia, IN 46030 92%294$90,536$246,000$179 Very close on everything we compare
Galesville, WI 54630 92%167$95,549$272,300$153 pricier homes ($32K more)
Chatfield, MN 55923 92%155$96,328$293,000$147 pricier homes ($53K more)
Trenton, IL 62293 92%229$98,155$250,600$116 Very close on everything we compare
Okarche, OK 73762 92%542$93,194$261,700$117 smaller
Bradford, VT 05033 91%982$105,250$255,600$164 Very close on everything we compare
Chazy, NY 12921 91%924$101,302$215,100$132 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
La Fayette, NY 13084 91%781$91,389$227,200$157 Very close on everything we compare
Adams Center, NY 13606 91%790$88,977$203,900$143 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Manchester, PA 17345 91%769$92,821$222,500$157 larger
Millbury, OH 43447 91%407$89,643$218,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Bangor, WI 54614 91%153$85,588$250,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Hayfield, MN 55940 91%171$83,885$245,900$154 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, MN 55972 91%162$98,878$287,800$166 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Breese, IL 62230 91%231$91,350$229,300$153 larger · more single-family homes
Mount Wolf, PA 17347 90%771$98,261$254,300$167 larger
Ona, WV 25545 90%530$92,813$214,600$148 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Laceys Spring, AL 35754 90%557$96,071$201,800$159 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Nashport, OH 43830 90%494$88,346$234,100$186 larger
Rootstown, OH 44272 90%525$83,173$261,300$170 larger
Oostburg, WI 53070 90%224$91,557$282,000$194 pricier homes ($42K more) · 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.