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 Byron, MN 55920

Byron: median income $131,336, home value $372,600, $193/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sherman, IL 62684 92%325$139,196$305,300$158 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
West Henrietta, NY 14586 91%751$124,457$277,500$211 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Bellbrook, OH 45305 91%534$123,045$329,500$180 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Brandon, SD 57005 91%200$112,500$341,200$189 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Tea, SD 57064 91%213$119,022$365,800$218 younger residents
Greenville, WI 54942 90%204$119,508$355,900$217 less walkable
Mahomet, IL 61853 90%343$115,512$282,200$191 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Papillion, NE 68133 90%264$134,426$388,300$170 larger
Port Matilda, PA 16870 89%774$121,528$411,100$235 pricier homes ($39K more)
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 89%838$117,130$385,600$185 smaller · older homes
Center Valley, PA 18034 89%910$153,200$475,900$235 pricier homes ($103K more)
Gretna, NE 68028 89%272$143,604$407,400$177 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Providence, UT 84332 89%982$117,987$515,900$205 pricier homes ($143K more) · younger residents
Omaha, NE 68136 88%269$133,472$373,600$177 larger · newer homes
Amarillo, TX 79124 88%781$112,541$362,300$187 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43617 87%480$127,019$286,000$145 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Solon, IA 52333 87%164$118,721$366,900$177 older residents · less walkable
Layton, UT 84040 87%1,001$128,365$542,500$210 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger
Hebron, KY 41048 86%534$137,398$329,100$184 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Ely, IA 52227 86%157$120,230$341,900$196 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · less walkable
Mc Farland, WI 53558 86%182$107,609$405,300$253 pricier homes ($33K more)
Kearney, MO 64060 86%335$112,683$356,600$186 larger · 6 min longer commute
Lees Summit, MO 64064 86%360$117,674$389,000$184 larger · 5 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68118 86%263$133,281$390,700$158 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, NE 68462 86%293$119,712$322,600$170 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller

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.