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 Independence, WI 54747

Independence: median income $70,820, home value $192,600, $99/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shamokin Dam, PA 17876 94%782$70,972$203,500$110 Very close on everything we compare
Gaylord, MN 55334 92%136$66,149$192,800$144 Very close on everything we compare
Sonora, TX 76950 92%1,079$78,844$157,000$104 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Sandusky, MI 48471 91%434$62,844$142,700$110 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Leon, IA 50144 91%278$63,333$130,800$108 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Oakland, IA 51560 91%291$75,481$177,100$123 smaller
Saint James, MN 56081 91%160$67,337$163,800$106 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Steeleville, IL 62288 91%451$67,159$177,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Adams, NY 13605 90%764$70,045$191,100$136 larger
Forest City, PA 18421 90%828$68,256$171,400$109 larger · more homeowners
Weber City, VA 24290 90%711$60,923$175,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
Marengo, IA 52301 90%183$70,150$160,300$109 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more homeowners
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 90%246$74,583$154,100$104 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Lexington, MO 64067 90%382$69,546$177,200$118 larger
Sutherland, NE 69165 90%539$75,795$211,800$105 smaller
Huntington, UT 84528 90%1,060$71,053$206,100— Very close on everything we compare
Troy, PA 16947 89%761$59,872$176,200$84 larger
Laceyville, PA 18623 89%795$74,798$176,800$85 newer homes
Shinnston, WV 26431 89%670$61,023$149,900$120 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Edinburgh, IN 46124 89%448$64,466$184,700$140 larger
Attica, IN 47918 89%357$70,317$157,300$103 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more homeowners
Osceola, IA 50213 89%261$73,026$165,500$115 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Webster, SD 57274 89%304$68,083$173,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Lisbon, ND 58054 89%332$75,370$209,000$92 7 min shorter commute
Spring Valley, IL 61362 89%241$71,558$158,000$118 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 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.