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 Brownsville, WI 53006

Brownsville: median income $88,625, home value $247,600, $232/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Ross, IN 47968 92%266$83,242$213,400$230 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Malvern, IA 51551 91%403$85,469$212,400$250 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hagaman, NY 12086 90%723$78,155$230,800$285 Very close on everything we compare
Roland, IA 50236 90%271$85,046$198,900$179 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Kingsley, IA 51028 90%382$78,000$219,600$202 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer homes
Claremont, MN 55924 90%225$78,558$243,500$194 smaller
Kenyon, MN 55946 90%228$85,781$261,300$178 larger · 5 min longer commute
Ellendale, MN 56026 90%240$100,169$232,700$181 Very close on everything we compare
New Knoxville, OH 45871 89%304$87,500$211,700$204 cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Woodland, MI 48897 89%182$69,531$224,600$204 Very close on everything we compare
Humphrey, NE 68642 89%475$93,798$266,400$191 younger residents
Chester, MA 01011 88%790$89,299$291,400$223 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Wilson, NY 14172 88%487$81,330$196,200$209 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older residents
Byron, NY 14422 88%527$91,786$169,500$180 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Coal Center, PA 15423 88%506$77,857$185,900$215 cheaper homes ($62K less) · newer homes
Woodville, OH 43469 88%302$86,410$205,500$161 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Rockford, IA 50468 88%226$73,403$173,700— cheaper homes ($74K less)
Mead, NE 68041 88%438$74,000$251,300— smaller
Randolph, NE 68771 88%454$83,580$162,500— cheaper homes ($85K less)
Pilot Rock, OR 97868 88%1,491$91,813$218,200$165 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Appleton, NY 14008 87%496$77,702$188,700$184 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Chaffee, NY 14030 87%510$78,182$218,700$209 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Schleswig, IA 51461 87%364$73,768$183,100— cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Lanesboro, MN 55949 87%173$84,327$277,400$161 pricier homes ($30K more)
Rose Creek, MN 55970 87%216$85,000$211,900$161 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · newer homes

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.