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 Altura, MN 55910

Altura: median income $76,389, home value $259,100, $134/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milan, PA 18831 94%794$82,132$216,900$122 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Eland, WI 54427 94%143$83,958$189,800$134 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Genoa, WI 54632 94%57$82,500$236,100— Very close on everything we compare
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 94%386$78,750$269,400— Very close on everything we compare
Fabius, NY 13063 93%805$84,063$230,200$161 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Scenery Hill, PA 15360 93%670$85,341$246,300$140 older homes
Coon Valley, WI 54623 93%56$88,864$276,400$181 larger
Dornsife, PA 17823 92%809$78,864$232,100— cheaper homes ($27K less)
Vulcan, MI 49892 92%232$74,926$198,900$116 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Jim Falls, WI 54748 92%75$78,750$235,100$161 6 min shorter commute
Bonfield, IL 60913 92%286$87,750$279,000$156 Very close on everything we compare
Easton, KS 66020 92%368$78,594$320,100— pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older residents
Milan, NH 03588 91%1,025$71,538$253,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Darien Center, NY 14040 91%685$88,779$210,100$141 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Austinburg, OH 44010 91%585$80,455$223,300$173 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Waterford, OH 45786 91%619$70,917$218,500$140 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Markle, IN 46770 91%409$66,750$222,700$118 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Climax, MI 49034 91%360$73,929$213,600$180 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Sherrill, IA 52073 91%120$95,526$297,400$128 pricier homes ($38K more)
Saint Cloud, WI 53079 91%190$86,667$260,000$181 Very close on everything we compare
Darien, WI 53114 91%194$72,708$241,000$159 larger
Endeavor, WI 53930 91%129$72,778$224,200$182 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Deer Park, WI 54007 91%74$85,398$309,400— pricier homes ($50K more)
Fountain City, WI 54629 91%15$74,432$229,900$143 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Almond, WI 54909 91%130$80,417$195,800$139 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 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.