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 Walcott, IA 52773

Walcott: median income $85,523, home value $214,400, $178/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 93%416$86,075$198,500$145 Very close on everything we compare
Bergen, NY 14416 91%659$80,430$177,300$191 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Shoemakersville, PA 19555 91%772$89,583$239,900$190 pricier homes ($26K more)
New Bremen, OH 45869 91%341$88,277$249,700$183 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Clinton, WI 53525 91%114$79,323$248,100$189 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Bottineau, ND 58318 91%685$85,729$220,600$176 larger · newer homes
Wathena, KS 66090 91%256$87,025$161,100$152 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Albion, NE 68620 91%375$83,450$231,700$169 more single-family homes
Vernon, VT 05354 90%934$85,682$285,100$204 pricier homes ($71K more) · newer homes
Richland, PA 17087 90%758$93,150$225,200$219 younger residents
Versailles, OH 45380 90%340$84,135$235,300$139 larger
Baroda, MI 49101 90%219$75,048$252,100$164 pricier homes ($38K more)
Kiel, WI 53042 90%210$86,389$239,400$205 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Whitelaw, WI 54247 90%227$78,417$202,500$211 Very close on everything we compare
Rushford, MN 55971 90%159$88,750$231,700$142 Very close on everything we compare
Milnor, ND 58060 90%460$77,143$167,800$167 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Union Springs, NY 13160 89%723$86,029$185,600$168 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Oriskany, NY 13424 89%791$84,844$208,200$163 younger residents
Adams Center, NY 13606 89%761$88,977$203,900$143 younger residents
New Berlin, PA 17855 89%715$88,929$216,700$151 smaller
Smithville, OH 44677 89%463$75,435$230,600$247 Very close on everything we compare
Enon, OH 45323 89%376$80,781$187,900$168 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Mayville, WI 53050 89%170$71,985$210,600$170 larger
Oostburg, WI 53070 89%202$91,557$282,000$194 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Darien, WI 53114 89%121$72,708$241,000$159 pricier homes ($27K more)

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.