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 Jim Falls, WI 54748

Jim Falls: median income $78,750, home value $235,100, $161/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crofton, NE 68730 96%352$76,944$208,600$151 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Mount Clare, WV 26408 95%692$72,819$227,400$175 Very close on everything we compare
Dalton, MN 56324 95%237$82,917$252,600$160 Very close on everything we compare
New Berlin, PA 17855 94%776$88,929$216,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
Sterling, OH 44276 94%555$86,583$231,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Comb, OH 45858 94%465$74,709$196,700$144 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Turbotville, PA 17772 93%781$81,146$241,900$136 larger
Arlington, OH 45814 93%481$91,115$207,000$160 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Ashby, MN 56309 93%231$84,750$289,900$140 pricier homes ($55K more)
Climax, MI 49034 92%356$73,929$213,600$180 5 min longer commute
Altura, MN 55910 92%75$76,389$259,100$134 6 min longer commute
Hopedale, IL 61747 92%335$80,333$188,200$126 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Doniphan, NE 68832 92%468$96,641$250,000$154 Very close on everything we compare
Verona, NY 13478 91%788$83,986$185,800$196 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Fort Jennings, OH 45844 91%455$88,792$231,300$123 larger
Hoagland, IN 46745 91%426$89,643$242,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Amboy, IN 46911 91%410$95,122$209,300$135 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Lake Park, IA 51347 91%231$82,750$201,600$157 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 91%115$85,114$232,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
Carlos, MN 56319 91%205$89,712$273,100$228 pricier homes ($38K more)
Waubun, MN 56589 91%265$72,969$200,000$168 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min longer commute
Nashua, MT 59248 91%745$89,821$216,000— Very close on everything we compare
Greentop, MO 63546 91%334$72,404$173,600$143 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Galva, KS 67443 91%565$88,938$220,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Marshallville, OH 44645 90%561$84,756$230,400$212 larger · 6 min longer 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.