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 Owen, WI 54460

Owen: median income $65,583, home value $162,800, $89/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Argos, IN 46501 94%336$64,172$156,900$124 Very close on everything we compare
Eddyville, IA 52553 92%283$64,583$150,000— Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, SD 57062 92%395$62,321$134,900$110 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Sherman, NY 14781 91%581$61,625$145,300$103 Very close on everything we compare
Sycamore, GA 31790 91%992$63,365$113,900$104 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Carlisle, IN 47838 91%444$61,875$129,000$108 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Ubly, MI 48475 91%385$61,719$161,200$73 older residents
Steeleville, IL 62288 91%482$67,159$177,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Oran, MO 63771 91%546$70,603$133,400$117 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Huntington, UT 84528 91%1,112$71,053$206,100— pricier homes ($43K more)
New Paris, OH 45347 90%459$63,025$136,700$106 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Williamsport, IN 47993 90%358$72,455$158,400$127 Very close on everything we compare
Snover, MI 48472 90%390$61,000$159,400$94 smaller · older residents
Burr Oak, MI 49030 90%339$69,167$138,400$118 6 min longer commute
Elma, IA 50628 90%148$68,750$153,500— smaller · 5 min longer commute
Marengo, IA 52301 90%232$70,150$160,300$109 larger
Albion, IL 62806 90%473$66,776$120,800— cheaper homes ($42K less)
La Monte, MO 65337 90%452$71,500$169,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Texico, NM 88135 90%985$70,417$145,000— smaller
Williamsburg, PA 16693 89%698$62,898$154,400$99 6 min longer commute
Stryker, OH 43557 89%391$84,950$158,900$104 Very close on everything we compare
Rawson, OH 45881 89%439$73,775$154,600$134 smaller
Butler, IN 46721 89%375$68,580$138,800$124 larger
Nashua, IA 50658 89%170$71,936$155,100$68 6 min longer commute
Afton, IA 50830 89%327$61,094$113,300$114 cheaper homes ($50K less)

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.