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 Cascade, WI 53011

Cascade: median income $90,833, home value $253,400, $193/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springville, IA 52336 98%202$91,458$225,300$179 cheaper homes ($28K less)
La Salle, MI 48145 97%265$83,204$231,100$187 Very close on everything we compare
Hanover, MI 49241 96%208$81,742$222,600$180 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Thompson, OH 44086 95%383$92,143$289,100$187 pricier homes ($36K more)
Arlington, SD 57212 95%448$93,750$238,100— Very close on everything we compare
Bonfield, IL 60913 95%173$87,750$279,000$156 pricier homes ($26K more)
Vandalia, MI 49095 94%166$83,393$264,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Ottawa Lake, MI 49267 94%259$97,961$267,900$176 larger
Waterville, MN 56096 94%275$87,679$278,000$160 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe Center, IL 61052 94%117$91,797$225,700$174 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Darien Center, NY 14040 93%491$88,779$210,100$141 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Scenery Hill, PA 15360 93%481$85,341$246,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Dornsife, PA 17823 93%613$78,864$232,100— smaller
West Mansfield, OH 43358 93%325$89,121$218,600$133 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Stilesville, IN 46180 93%288$90,208$228,600$168 smaller
Kellogg, MN 55945 93%204$80,284$235,200$176 smaller
Starbuck, MN 56381 93%390$77,146$232,500$167 Very close on everything we compare
Washington Boro, PA 17582 92%651$100,263$304,800$211 pricier homes ($51K more)
Marion Station, MD 21838 92%752$88,438$202,400$193 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Austinburg, OH 44010 92%390$80,455$223,300$173 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Larimore, ND 58251 92%545$100,625$232,300$192 Very close on everything we compare
Hookstown, PA 15050 91%447$91,406$209,800$134 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Newburg, PA 17240 91%593$91,429$256,300$175 younger residents
Gardners, PA 17324 91%614$77,824$254,100$200 larger
Wellsville, PA 17365 91%625$91,742$261,800$155 younger 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.