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 Hurley, WI 54534

Hurley: median income $53,468, home value $123,600, $121/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Madison, MN 56256 95%305$65,521$124,200$119 Very close on everything we compare
Walton, IN 46994 94%444$56,563$136,200$102 Very close on everything we compare
Tyndall, SD 57066 94%445$56,389$112,000$119 smaller
Iron River, MI 49935 93%78$57,236$111,500$139 larger
Appleton, MN 56208 93%292$59,766$102,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Morrill, NE 69358 93%745$52,159$152,800$137 pricier homes ($29K more)
Sodus, NY 14551 92%681$59,167$123,500$128 larger
Conklin, NY 13748 91%773$62,125$122,900$121 larger
Stoystown, PA 15563 91%714$62,411$139,600$128 Very close on everything we compare
Chisholm, MN 55719 91%145$53,647$123,100$106 larger
Tarkio, MO 64491 91%489$57,500$91,300$126 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Saint Francis, KS 67756 91%752$54,868$129,600— 6 min shorter commute
Kimball, NE 69145 91%760$58,846$112,400$92 Very close on everything we compare
Rising Star, TX 76471 91%1,094$54,773$141,700$142 smaller
Hampton, IA 50441 90%296$49,910$127,100$102 larger
Elgin, IA 52141 90%251$64,647$115,500$99 smaller
Marion, KS 66861 90%658$60,565$150,300$108 pricier homes ($27K more)
Island Falls, ME 04747 89%1,045$56,795$120,200$111 smaller
Johnstown, PA 15909 89%704$61,016$110,200$107 larger · 5 min longer commute
Harbor Beach, MI 48441 89%408$50,765$154,000$140 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Bessemer, MI 49911 89%7$57,000$106,300$87 younger residents
Lake Linden, MI 49945 89%103$59,453$159,100$162 pricier homes ($36K more)
Jefferson, IA 50129 89%370$60,671$166,100$117 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Langdon, ND 58249 89%413$64,571$148,500$94 Very close on everything we compare
Cooperstown, ND 58425 89%381$59,773$122,500— smaller · 6 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.