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 Elko New Market, MN 55054

Elko New Market: median income $157,096, home value $433,100, $196/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Kent, VA 23124 88%973$132,060$398,600$231 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Ostrander, OH 43061 88%595$157,568$400,300$229 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Saint Jacob, IL 62281 87%444$132,000$308,900$174 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($124K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73173 87%676$143,864$360,600$207 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Friant, CA 93626 87%1,465$173,788$631,600$238 pricier homes ($199K more)
Adams, TN 37010 86%641$118,179$424,900$213 lower income ($39K less) · larger
Lavon, TX 75166 85%815$132,101$396,600$163 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Fresno, CA 93737 85%1,480$127,279$525,400$262 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Hickman, NE 68372 84%320$114,420$354,100$162 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less)
Gunter, TX 75058 84%789$125,694$532,600$184 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($100K more)
Lithopolis, OH 43136 82%630$114,375$335,400$187 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($98K less)
Manchaca, TX 78652 82%1,028$133,368$528,100$204 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · older residents
Mead, CO 80542 82%666$133,500$614,600$192 pricier homes ($182K more) · larger · older residents
White Marsh, MD 21162 81%937$157,813$451,600$216 larger · more walkable · older homes
Memphis, IN 47143 81%574$138,382$272,600$175 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Granger, IA 50109 81%195$118,669$370,100$251 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($63K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mapleton, ND 58059 81%242$115,469$331,800$201 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Gilberts, IL 60136 81%302$147,704$347,300$191 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older residents
Roca, NE 68430 81%317$145,729$468,900$233 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Hedwig, TX 78152 81%1,079$123,981$325,200$145 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80927 81%701$163,803$587,100$210 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger · more walkable
Lincoln University, PA 19352 80%950$165,365$473,200$225 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Sandy Hook, VA 23153 80%928$122,096$462,500$245 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Fortville, IN 46040 80%498$147,500$435,700$168 larger
North Prairie, WI 53153 80%271$152,543$430,100$271 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · older homes

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.