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 Lone Tree, IA 52755

Lone Tree: median income $102,434, home value $242,700, $127/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Albers, IL 62215 97%226$107,727$204,700$127 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Colton, SD 57018 94%322$97,500$252,700$146 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, SD 57212 94%347$93,750$238,100— Very close on everything we compare
Powers Lake, ND 58773 94%737$103,750$262,500— smaller
Germantown, IL 62245 93%227$91,767$204,500$160 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Henderson, MN 56044 92%245$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($91K more)
Hennepin, IL 61327 92%111$89,306$211,300$132 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Utica, IL 61373 92%127$109,000$237,200$166 Very close on everything we compare
Hegins, PA 17938 91%780$93,722$219,000$151 Very close on everything we compare
Bartonsville, PA 18321 91%838$100,481$242,100$153 5 min shorter commute
Lucas, OH 44843 91%473$90,366$208,700$127 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Dodge Center, MN 55927 91%189$99,566$241,100$165 larger
Rushford, MN 55971 91%161$88,750$231,700$142 5 min shorter commute
Mackinaw, IL 61755 91%128$102,225$203,600$105 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Bunker Hill, IL 62014 91%187$93,233$204,400$128 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Worden, IL 62097 91%195$91,011$217,900$132 Very close on everything we compare
Newburg, PA 17240 90%731$91,429$256,300$175 larger
Wellsville, PA 17365 90%764$91,742$261,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsley, PA 18826 90%807$88,958$267,800$150 pricier homes ($25K more)
Millbury, OH 43447 90%414$89,643$218,600$167 larger
San Pierre, IN 46374 90%238$91,250$226,900$132 smaller
Lake Crystal, MN 56055 90%230$90,987$226,100$120 larger
Waterville, MN 56096 90%217$87,679$278,000$160 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Wilton, ND 58579 90%605$93,750$281,500$127 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Belfield, ND 58622 90%685$82,692$239,000$140 Very close on everything we compare

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.