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 Donahue, IA 52746

Donahue: median income $107,813, home value $336,900, $159/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Union, IL 60180 93%116$110,070$349,100$201 Very close on everything we compare
Powers Lake, ND 58773 90%755$103,750$262,500— cheaper homes ($74K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Racine, MN 55967 88%172$109,583$317,700$210 Very close on everything we compare
Bowlus, MN 56314 88%339$95,972$262,800$175 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 5 min longer commute
Laura, OH 45337 87%349$108,162$228,700$155 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Colton, SD 57018 87%349$97,500$252,700$146 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Holdingford, MN 56340 86%335$96,250$294,900$188 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Grant Park, IL 60940 86%160$97,361$271,900$163 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Metamora, OH 43540 85%348$119,583$259,300$167 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Dakota, MN 55925 85%157$92,500$282,200— cheaper homes ($55K less)
Freeport, MN 56331 85%339$96,042$271,800$169 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Utica, IL 61373 85%90$109,000$237,200$166 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Newburg, PA 17240 84%693$91,429$256,300$175 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Washington Boro, PA 17582 84%753$100,263$304,800$211 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Bartonsville, PA 18321 84%798$100,481$242,100$153 cheaper homes ($95K less) · newer homes
Bethel, PA 19507 84%754$93,177$271,700$172 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Eldorado, WI 54932 84%180$110,125$271,000$202 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Henderson, MN 56044 84%255$101,250$333,600$143 larger
North Franklin, CT 06254 83%955$105,000$326,200$246 larger
Quantico, MD 21856 83%821$88,045$380,600$177 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
Port Republic, VA 24471 83%671$97,396$395,500$227 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Casco, WI 54205 83%251$90,781$252,900$140 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Hampton, MN 55031 83%230$114,338$409,800$192 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Lester Prairie, MN 55354 83%277$97,941$268,900$143 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Rollingstone, MN 55969 83%175$94,444$291,800$157 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 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.