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 Stewart, MN 55385

Stewart: median income $78,125, home value $206,300, $111/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newhall, IA 52315 96%226$77,656$196,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
Juda, WI 53550 94%289$73,438$228,900— Very close on everything we compare
Livingston, WI 53554 94%236$74,063$175,000$124 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Homer, IL 61849 94%463$86,250$159,900$106 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Wyoming, NY 14591 93%826$85,804$163,500$96 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Bessemer, PA 16112 93%752$74,821$154,500$114 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Poneto, IN 46781 93%545$87,768$192,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Morocco, IN 47963 93%441$75,000$204,200$84 larger
Casnovia, MI 49318 93%441$81,591$240,600$90 pricier homes ($34K more)
Bloomington, WI 53804 93%218$82,917$165,800$114 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Milladore, WI 54454 93%224$82,589$170,200$129 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Cedarville, NJ 08311 92%1,053$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($41K more)
North Rose, NY 14516 92%877$76,000$172,400$114 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Earlville, IA 52041 92%222$89,697$188,800$115 5 min shorter commute
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 92%167$84,609$217,500$101 Very close on everything we compare
Forreston, IL 61030 92%303$71,655$157,200$130 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Shelby, NE 68662 92%287$89,706$168,900$93 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Valley View, PA 17983 91%950$72,411$158,700$101 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Sherwood, OH 43556 91%553$73,125$195,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Mooreland, IN 47360 91%571$76,250$187,200$167 Very close on everything we compare
Loganville, WI 53943 91%238$73,000$225,600— Very close on everything we compare
Lynn Center, IL 61262 91%316$86,250$244,700$119 pricier homes ($38K more)
Tonica, IL 61370 91%363$91,094$155,100$130 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Wood River, NE 68883 91%343$90,966$206,000$119 larger
Townville, PA 16360 90%762$71,528$161,500$96 cheaper homes ($45K 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.