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 Adams, MN 55909

Adams: median income $96,736, home value $213,200, $122/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kenesaw, NE 68956 97%365$94,231$203,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Hemlock, NY 14466 93%764$108,085$213,500$164 Very close on everything we compare
West Alexander, PA 15376 92%673$86,607$218,900$121 Very close on everything we compare
Cordova, IL 61242 91%178$104,219$218,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Argenta, IL 62501 91%322$95,889$172,200$125 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Hookstown, PA 15050 90%663$91,406$209,800$134 larger
Nashua, MT 59248 90%727$89,821$216,000— 5 min shorter commute
Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 90%297$102,917$212,500$128 larger
Scenery Hill, PA 15360 89%694$85,341$246,300$140 pricier homes ($33K more)
Mulliken, MI 48861 89%399$89,412$184,600$157 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
Elizabeth, IL 61028 89%154$86,053$174,400$118 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Farmersville, OH 45325 88%505$81,250$234,600$141 larger
Sharpsville, IN 46068 88%405$98,708$189,700$154 larger · less walkable
State Center, IA 50247 88%109$91,875$181,300$139 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Alhambra, IL 62001 88%358$98,558$218,100$118 Very close on everything we compare
North Bend, NE 68649 88%252$87,132$231,700$96 Very close on everything we compare
Darien Center, NY 14040 87%723$88,779$210,100$141 less walkable
Fairbank, IA 50629 87%74$103,106$207,100$126 larger
Danville, IA 52623 87%200$90,714$194,000$111 5 min shorter commute
Arlington, SD 57212 87%223$93,750$238,100— Very close on everything we compare
Wilton, ND 58579 87%464$93,750$281,500$127 pricier homes ($68K more)
Addieville, IL 62214 87%394$104,063$169,100— cheaper homes ($44K less)
Germantown, IL 62245 87%384$91,767$204,500$160 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NE 68446 87%267$90,746$236,700$127 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Austinburg, OH 44010 86%615$80,455$223,300$173 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.