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 Brandon, WI 53919

Brandon: median income $97,019, home value $223,400, $150/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Byron, NY 14422 91%540$91,786$169,500$180 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Monroeville, OH 44847 91%355$76,060$187,500$157 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Ellendale, MN 56026 91%226$100,169$232,700$181 Very close on everything we compare
North Collins, NY 14111 90%503$90,700$201,700$164 Very close on everything we compare
Luckey, OH 43443 89%313$97,917$207,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
Woodville, OH 43469 89%317$86,410$205,500$161 newer homes
Blissfield, MI 49228 89%281$82,703$196,500$179 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Readlyn, IA 50668 89%187$85,956$174,000$118 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Ainsworth, IA 52201 89%218$93,750$181,600$147 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Pilot Rock, OR 97868 89%1,476$91,813$218,200$165 newer homes
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 88%341$77,083$208,700$140 newer homes
Merrill, IA 51038 88%381$95,893$183,100$132 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · newer homes
Logan, IA 51546 88%384$86,910$207,900$163 6 min longer commute
Kenyon, MN 55946 88%214$85,781$261,300$178 pricier homes ($38K more)
Hanska, MN 56041 88%286$80,833$197,700$151 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Odell, IL 60460 88%187$91,154$156,100$121 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Cedarville, NJ 08311 87%764$86,324$247,600$137 newer homes
Appleton, NY 14008 87%509$77,702$188,700$184 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Phelps, NY 14532 87%592$81,923$170,500$163 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Attica, OH 44807 87%351$87,356$153,200$120 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents
Clarksville, IA 50619 87%205$84,076$163,200$112 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Calmar, IA 52132 87%161$100,559$231,600$124 more renters · newer homes
Mapleton, MN 56065 87%258$92,933$223,100$146 younger residents · newer homes
Randolph, NE 68771 87%442$83,580$162,500— cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Stafford, NY 14143 86%539$95,893$181,900$159 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller

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.