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 Prairie Du Chien, WI 53821

Prairie Du Chien: median income $60,647, home value $168,300, $143/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Macon, MO 63552 95%238$65,210$163,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Wytheville, VA 24382 93%677$57,509$163,300$157 larger
Towanda, PA 18848 92%752$59,861$175,200$128 older homes
Petersburg, WV 26847 92%684$52,139$180,400$162 Very close on everything we compare
Clyde, OH 43410 92%433$52,500$164,900$161 Very close on everything we compare
Caldwell, OH 43724 92%547$64,688$170,400$145 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, MO 64735 92%350$58,879$174,700$115 larger
Cozad, NE 69130 92%480$63,388$154,300$126 smaller
Ogallala, NE 69153 92%559$61,946$163,000$111 Very close on everything we compare
Eastland, TX 76448 92%846$57,122$183,000$124 smaller
Globe, AZ 85501 92%1,254$61,983$164,200$137 larger
Houlton, ME 04730 91%1,160$61,980$145,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Somerset, PA 15501 91%656$59,245$171,100$121 larger · 5 min longer commute
Bedford, PA 15522 91%684$57,029$197,200$152 pricier homes ($29K more)
Coudersport, PA 16915 91%676$61,781$181,800$130 Very close on everything we compare
South Charleston, WV 25309 91%589$57,937$158,000$130 larger
Bryan, OH 43506 91%352$60,234$162,000$132 larger
Covington, IN 47932 91%279$59,811$182,400$134 smaller
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 91%225$66,352$176,800$118 younger residents
Princeton, IL 61356 91%145$68,243$152,900$128 Very close on everything we compare
Canadian, TX 79014 91%697$62,273$204,300$153 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Alturas, CA 96101 91%1,501$61,680$211,200$156 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Warrensburg, NY 12885 90%871$59,429$169,800$169 smaller
Dublin, VA 24084 90%687$63,146$192,600$176 6 min longer commute
Elkins, WV 26241 90%652$50,538$152,000$119 larger

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.