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 Platteville, WI 53818

Platteville: median income $55,567, home value $236,700, $157/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vermillion, SD 57069 92%327$53,327$231,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
Weatherford, OK 73096 92%664$59,138$248,600$134 Very close on everything we compare
Nacogdoches, TX 75965 92%794$55,291$244,500$151 older residents
Bowling Green, OH 43402 90%363$52,426$243,100$166 larger
Warrensburg, MO 64093 89%323$61,094$236,300$155 larger · newer homes
Manhattan, KS 66502 88%401$54,833$223,100$153 larger
Martin, TN 38237 87%450$51,670$200,900$138 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Maryville, MO 64468 87%281$57,251$211,100$122 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Potsdam, NY 13676 86%785$56,170$160,200$147 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents
Troy, AL 36081 86%796$44,375$198,800$113 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Kirksville, MO 63501 86%207$60,729$168,200$114 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Stillwater, OK 74074 86%577$52,998$258,700$164 larger · newer homes
Alamosa, CO 81101 86%889$54,844$240,400$183 older residents
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 86%1,498$60,901$247,700$194 larger
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 85%294$51,267$170,800$148 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · newer homes
Big Rapids, MI 49307 85%260$60,358$187,800$157 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Wayne, NE 68787 85%335$60,275$230,700— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Commerce, TX 75428 85%719$51,424$162,500$127 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Kent, OH 44240 84%482$57,627$226,500$177 larger · older residents
Ada, OH 45810 84%370$63,451$167,900$138 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Rolla, MO 65401 84%338$56,081$222,800$138 larger · older residents
Clarion, PA 16214 83%580$57,521$171,600$107 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Radford, VA 24141 83%653$62,969$236,400$163 older residents · more walkable
Valdosta, GA 31602 83%908$56,939$217,300$132 larger · older residents · newer homes
Brookings, SD 57006 83%334$66,337$273,900$155 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 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.