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 Lester Prairie, MN 55354

Lester Prairie: median income $97,941, home value $268,900, $143/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethel, PA 19507 97%951$93,177$271,700$172 Very close on everything we compare
Grant Park, IL 60940 95%409$97,361$271,900$163 Very close on everything we compare
De Graff, OH 43318 94%604$91,520$215,900$143 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Buskirk, NY 12028 93%1,031$96,891$247,700— smaller
Seneca, IL 61360 93%369$95,093$258,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Buckner, MO 64016 93%397$98,323$214,800$163 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Womelsdorf, PA 19567 92%957$91,458$250,600$168 larger
Danbury, TX 77534 92%1,083$105,741$245,700$148 6 min longer commute
Elberfeld, IN 47613 91%574$112,112$224,200$123 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Greenleaf, WI 54126 91%299$99,310$283,900$198 older residents
Mazon, IL 60444 91%380$87,614$219,000$188 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Archie, MO 64725 91%441$84,722$232,100$180 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Benton, KS 67017 91%514$88,750$259,400$150 Very close on everything we compare
Harrod, OH 45850 90%587$84,886$193,900$159 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Ida, MI 48140 90%565$109,257$288,400$151 Very close on everything we compare
Jesup, IA 50648 90%193$95,353$226,400$145 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Inwood, IA 51240 90%160$83,929$232,600$123 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Larchwood, IA 51241 90%154$87,446$280,600$145 smaller
Aspers, PA 17304 89%920$84,885$248,000$216 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, OH 43067 89%622$95,903$303,100$194 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Russia, OH 45363 89%586$95,268$316,900— pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Grabill, IN 46741 89%525$102,281$330,200$190 pricier homes ($61K more)
Woodburn, IN 46797 89%532$103,566$260,600$149 6 min shorter commute
Lanesville, IN 47136 89%620$91,333$260,600$155 larger
Clear Lake, WI 54005 89%90$87,813$274,300$206 Very close on everything we compare

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.