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 Bonaparte, IA 52620

Bonaparte: median income $79,327, home value $227,500, $50/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Willow Lake, SD 57278 90%403$70,208$220,400— Very close on everything we compare
Terreton, ID 83450 88%1,074$70,046$231,300— Very close on everything we compare
Harrah, WA 98933 88%1,485$75,972$241,400— older residents
Murdock, MN 56271 86%361$64,861$222,700— older residents
Bryant, SD 57221 86%393$73,988$227,100$77 Very close on everything we compare
Goodwell, OK 73939 86%603$72,813$163,900— cheaper homes ($64K less)
Curtiss, WI 54422 82%301$71,667$156,300— cheaper homes ($71K less)
Rebersburg, PA 16872 81%751$72,708$199,200— cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Plains, KS 67869 81%528$72,760$155,200$34 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Castorland, NY 13620 80%861$70,087$181,800$79 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents
Loretto, PA 15940 80%690$88,274$238,900$61 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Farwell, TX 79325 80%752$71,771$163,400— cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older residents
Ethan, SD 57334 79%373$62,167$206,500— older residents · older homes
Aaronsburg, PA 16820 78%749$83,900$263,600— pricier homes ($36K more) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Pantego, NC 27860 76%891$62,083$145,300— cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 76%559$68,750$158,100— cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Joseph City, AZ 86032 75%1,084$73,194$177,000— cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Minneota, MN 56264 74%340$81,071$189,600$81 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Chilton, TX 76632 74%714$76,193$156,700— cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents
Tuscarawas, OH 44682 73%545$86,250$155,800— cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents · newer homes
Loganville, WI 53943 73%207$73,000$225,600— older residents · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Hildale, UT 84784 73%1,165$78,523$379,200— pricier homes ($152K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Congerville, IL 61729 72%136$101,172$259,100— pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Cairo, NE 68824 72%357$77,989$219,900$115 older residents
Holland, IN 47541 71%305$78,409$156,800— cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents · more homeowners

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.