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.

Reset

Towns most like Laona, WI 54541

Laona: median income $63,438, home value $193,800, $104/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Corydon, KY 42406 92%542$62,470$187,200$132 larger
Markle, IN 46770 92%367$66,750$222,700$118 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
West Baden Springs, IN 47469 92%491$63,529$204,700$88 Very close on everything we compare
Rosebush, MI 48878 91%231$57,656$150,300$92 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Fredericksburg, IA 50630 91%250$71,518$198,900$73 Very close on everything we compare
Brooten, MN 56316 91%312$71,111$218,000$107 older homes
Lake Preston, SD 57249 91%433$63,182$193,300— smaller
Shipman, IL 62685 91%444$64,063$154,500$105 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Paris, MO 65275 91%452$60,893$151,100$90 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Solomon, KS 67480 91%637$67,750$174,400$141 Very close on everything we compare
Sherman, NY 14781 90%509$61,625$145,300$103 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Creekside, PA 15732 90%582$62,000$200,200— Very close on everything we compare
Penn Run, PA 15765 90%595$73,646$186,000— older residents
Transfer, PA 16154 90%506$57,870$167,000$106 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Rivesville, WV 26588 90%599$60,990$173,300$109 larger · 5 min longer commute
Ossineke, MI 49766 90%257$61,346$161,800$100 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Montrose, IA 52639 90%375$68,625$163,800$103 cheaper homes ($30K less)
New Salem, ND 58563 90%616$78,214$219,700$124 pricier homes ($26K more)
Andalusia, IL 61232 90%302$73,971$186,100$118 Very close on everything we compare
Payson, IL 62360 90%418$54,706$147,500$111 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Waverly, KS 66871 90%610$71,094$145,100— cheaper homes ($49K less)
Fletcher, OK 73541 90%897$61,420$171,500$130 larger · younger residents
Townville, PA 16360 89%514$71,528$161,500$96 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Salesville, OH 43778 89%532$65,556$187,500$120 Very close on everything we compare
Ubly, MI 48475 89%309$61,719$161,200$73 cheaper homes ($33K 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.