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 Elgin, MN 55932

Elgin: median income $100,078, home value $316,500, $120/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Okarche, OK 73762 95%652$93,194$261,700$117 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Humboldt, SD 57035 93%243$99,565$326,500— Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, IL 62293 93%404$98,155$250,600$116 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Moville, IA 51039 92%223$110,000$268,200$125 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Gower, MO 64454 92%336$87,262$260,800$151 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Benton, KS 67017 92%506$88,750$259,400$150 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Russia, OH 45363 91%483$95,268$316,900— Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, NE 68037 91%295$107,839$245,800$167 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Holland Patent, NY 13354 90%850$101,733$241,900$158 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Wadesville, IN 47638 90%479$93,958$282,700$145 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Battle Ground, IN 47920 90%373$90,441$276,300$151 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Maxwell, IA 50161 90%165$98,519$256,500$135 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 6 min longer commute
Alton, IA 51003 90%205$101,250$232,700$119 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Larchwood, IA 51241 90%214$87,446$280,600$145 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Underwood, IA 51576 90%257$110,476$305,400$180 Very close on everything we compare
Lisbon, IA 52253 90%159$104,821$238,400$167 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Walker, IA 52352 90%130$92,321$231,300$131 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Yutan, NE 68073 90%290$112,460$263,400$148 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents
Battle Creek, NE 68715 90%308$95,714$238,800$123 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Pedricktown, NJ 08067 89%915$111,912$325,600$154 older homes
York, PA 17407 89%849$122,625$306,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle, MI 48822 89%386$91,299$300,900$176 Very close on everything we compare
Center Point, IA 52213 89%137$98,854$259,800$161 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · older residents
Lone Tree, IA 52755 89%187$102,434$242,700$127 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Fall Creek, WI 54742 89%65$102,083$282,100$189 cheaper homes ($34K 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.