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 Winfield, IA 52659

Winfield: median income $55,125, home value $110,900, $156/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lyons, NE 68038 93%266$51,362$117,700$112 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 92%291$57,361$85,900— cheaper homes ($25K less)
Caldwell, KS 67022 92%435$60,000$89,700$191 Very close on everything we compare
Tatum, NM 88267 92%849$52,250$111,400— Very close on everything we compare
Fayette, OH 43521 91%370$60,550$120,500$136 larger
Fairfax, MO 64446 91%213$56,949$101,800— Very close on everything we compare
Emerson, NE 68733 91%284$64,479$132,600— Very close on everything we compare
Appleton, MN 56208 90%363$59,766$102,800$114 larger
Grant City, MO 64456 90%161$48,611$92,000— Very close on everything we compare
Oolitic, IN 47451 89%302$60,938$126,400$176 newer homes
Tarkio, MO 64491 89%211$57,500$91,300$126 older residents
Troy, KS 66087 89%216$56,875$127,300$133 larger
Castile, NY 14427 88%696$56,490$134,800$128 newer homes
Falconer, NY 14733 88%636$63,068$109,700$131 larger
Portville, NY 14770 88%680$56,910$108,500$141 larger · newer homes
Kentland, IN 47951 88%210$66,156$115,600$107 larger
Crossville, IL 62827 88%272$52,550$100,000— 6 min longer commute
Groveton, NH 03582 87%1,035$46,250$122,300$164 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Graw, NY 13101 87%796$63,587$143,700$112 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Cassadaga, NY 14718 87%631$56,250$98,000$154 newer homes
Bellwood, PA 16617 87%685$52,609$145,500$121 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Lonaconing, MD 21539 87%663$57,708$130,200$214 more renters
Fowler, IN 47944 87%218$55,242$131,400$120 larger
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845 87%332$51,771$89,700$106 Very close on everything we compare
Rushville, NE 69360 87%577$52,402$116,000— 6 min shorter 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.