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 Dover, MN 55929

Dover: median income $118,977, home value $332,300, $166/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfield, VT 05455 91%943$110,147$335,800$209 Very close on everything we compare
Atkins, IA 52206 91%140$116,071$309,700$140 larger
Walford, IA 52351 91%148$128,750$303,000$117 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Haskins, OH 43525 90%462$108,672$241,300$179 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Surrey, ND 58785 90%520$105,375$317,200$168 6 min shorter commute
Richmond, UT 84333 90%1,002$108,750$398,900$188 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Underwood, IA 51576 89%254$110,476$305,400$180 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Humboldt, SD 57035 89%247$99,565$326,500— older homes
York, PA 17407 88%841$122,625$306,800$168 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older homes
Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442 88%804$111,419$393,600$200 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older residents
Lithopolis, OH 43136 88%560$114,375$335,400$187 larger · newer homes
Eagle, MI 48822 88%379$91,299$300,900$176 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Palo, IA 52324 88%137$115,917$327,400$200 larger · newer homes
Urbana, IA 52345 88%123$115,179$226,800$134 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Barneveld, WI 53507 88%131$113,261$347,400$224 larger
White Post, VA 22663 87%801$135,046$378,700$226 pricier homes ($46K more)
Prole, IA 50229 87%198$123,164$416,700— pricier homes ($84K more)
Ely, IA 52227 87%148$120,230$341,900$196 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Baltic, SD 57003 87%231$111,932$281,500$194 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Mapleton, ND 58059 87%312$115,469$331,800$201 newer homes
Andale, KS 67001 87%517$98,661$357,300$178 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Waverly, NE 68462 87%308$119,712$322,600$170 larger
Willard, UT 84340 87%1,023$108,304$498,000$178 pricier homes ($166K more) · larger
Lisbon, IA 52253 86%149$104,821$238,400$167 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Allenton, WI 53002 86%193$117,500$332,900$214 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.