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 Waldo, WI 53093

Waldo: median income $101,429, home value $274,800, $223/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mertztown, PA 19539 96%666$107,656$266,700$228 larger
Schaghticoke, NY 12154 94%723$106,136$251,300$197 Very close on everything we compare
Carlos, MN 56319 93%393$89,712$273,100$228 smaller
Port Byron, IL 61275 93%186$108,438$245,700$196 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Washington Boro, PA 17582 92%645$100,263$304,800$211 pricier homes ($30K more) · 7 min longer commute
Crescent, IA 51526 92%430$95,179$334,300$206 pricier homes ($60K more) · 5 min longer commute
Brandon, MN 56315 92%406$89,514$269,800$246 Very close on everything we compare
Hoyt, KS 66440 92%502$97,109$234,700$226 cheaper homes ($40K less)
West Sand Lake, NY 12196 91%726$110,889$317,300$241 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Winfield, PA 17889 91%598$89,063$288,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Marshallville, OH 44645 91%372$84,756$230,400$212 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Janesville, IA 50647 91%238$104,063$314,200$144 pricier homes ($39K more)
Carlton, MN 55718 91%301$96,546$319,100$198 pricier homes ($44K more)
Kasota, MN 56050 91%300$90,000$342,700$211 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Utica, IL 61373 91%167$109,000$237,200$166 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min longer commute
Doniphan, NE 68832 91%568$96,641$250,000$154 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasanton, NE 68866 91%599$94,792$262,300— smaller · younger residents
Preston, CT 06365 90%825$117,045$361,400$274 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Melrose, NY 12121 90%724$100,461$297,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Crawford, VA 22841 90%598$92,862$370,500$207 pricier homes ($96K more)
Richmond, MN 56368 90%346$97,407$321,100$254 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Salisbury, VT 05769 89%741$99,792$316,000$230 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · older residents
Northfield, CT 06778 89%766$81,375$321,600$230 pricier homes ($47K more)
Arlington, OH 45814 89%292$91,115$207,000$160 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Laotto, IN 46763 89%216$97,054$270,800$155 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.