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 Plain, WI 53577

Plain: median income $96,500, home value $271,100, $154/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Colton, SD 57018 94%347$97,500$252,700$146 Very close on everything we compare
Paris, OH 44669 92%488$82,411$202,100$153 cheaper homes ($69K less)
West Concord, MN 55985 92%153$83,636$245,200$141 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Thorntown, IN 46071 91%283$85,000$240,200$154 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Chester, MA 01011 90%867$89,299$291,400$223 older residents
Huntington, MA 01050 90%873$95,882$289,500$176 larger
Berlin, NY 12022 90%843$96,875$208,100$221 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Hegins, PA 17938 90%720$93,722$219,000$151 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Milford Center, OH 43045 90%403$99,181$275,000$176 more homeowners
Henderson, MN 56044 90%211$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · newer homes
Sidney, IL 61877 90%248$96,750$209,700$146 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Downey, ID 83234 90%1,115$81,083$229,300$178 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Sprakers, NY 12166 89%787$94,821$219,400$142 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more homeowners
Clayville, NY 13322 89%746$91,369$204,800$141 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Poland, NY 13431 89%753$76,000$245,100$150 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Woodville, OH 43469 89%364$86,410$205,500$161 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Beresford, SD 57004 89%339$88,750$264,100$168 larger
Carson, IA 51525 88%309$82,308$196,700$174 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents
Central City, IA 52214 88%105$86,786$234,600$129 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Letts, IA 52754 88%150$104,250$194,300$131 cheaper homes ($77K less) · more homeowners
Ellendale, MN 56026 88%168$100,169$232,700$181 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Colman, SD 57017 88%341$96,447$283,500$220 newer homes
Clifton, IL 60927 88%196$102,143$213,700$144 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Menan, ID 83434 88%1,096$82,731$277,400$192 newer homes
Pedricktown, NJ 08067 87%795$111,912$325,600$154 pricier homes ($55K more) · 5 min shorter commute

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.