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 Mountain Iron, MN 55768

Mountain Iron: median income $86,075, home value $198,500, $145/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wathena, KS 66090 95%548$87,025$161,100$152 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Walcott, IA 52773 93%416$85,523$214,400$178 Very close on everything we compare
Bottineau, ND 58318 93%371$85,729$220,600$176 Very close on everything we compare
Hazen, ND 58545 93%420$81,641$202,700$114 Very close on everything we compare
Conrad, IA 50621 92%365$88,077$214,700$106 smaller
Otego, NY 13825 91%919$76,875$194,500$128 5 min longer commute
Wilton, IA 52778 91%417$82,623$202,200$158 5 min longer commute
Waukomis, OK 73773 91%822$78,250$154,900$153 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Girard, PA 16417 90%713$88,041$190,300$141 larger
Wysox, PA 18854 90%889$77,917$207,300$143 smaller
Versailles, IN 47042 90%692$75,580$213,700$150 6 min longer commute
Baroda, MI 49101 90%488$75,048$252,100$164 pricier homes ($54K more)
Monticello, IA 52310 90%371$86,080$195,800$111 larger
Salem, SD 57058 90%348$84,286$228,600$132 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Milnor, ND 58060 90%247$77,143$167,800$167 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Park River, ND 58270 90%245$69,811$164,200$129 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Tulsa, OK 74131 90%811$76,382$209,000$167 newer homes
Basin, WY 82410 90%770$68,839$197,300$155 smaller
Morrisonville, NY 12962 89%931$77,847$189,000$157 larger
Versailles, OH 45380 89%645$84,135$235,300$139 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Ferdinand, IN 47532 89%704$84,750$236,200$107 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Garner, IA 50438 89%308$70,350$197,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Hazel Green, WI 53811 89%359$82,769$224,700$156 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min longer commute
Clear Lake, SD 57226 89%272$83,125$206,400$102 smaller
Wichita Falls, TX 76305 89%981$78,071$184,700$162 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.