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 Grand Meadow, MN 55936

Grand Meadow: median income $85,114, home value $232,500, $146/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cranesville, PA 16410 97%633$83,977$201,800$160 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Turbotville, PA 17772 95%826$81,146$241,900$136 larger
New Berlin, PA 17855 95%819$88,929$216,700$151 smaller
Hegins, PA 17938 95%849$93,722$219,000$151 Very close on everything we compare
Wakarusa, IN 46573 95%365$85,750$241,100$156 larger
Ogden, IA 50212 95%137$81,838$221,300$150 larger
Parkersburg, IA 50665 95%79$75,521$217,700$134 larger
Wallingford, VT 05773 94%978$80,726$261,700$155 pricier homes ($29K more)
Clayville, NY 13322 94%870$91,369$204,800$141 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Woodville, OH 43469 94%493$86,410$205,500$161 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Sterling, OH 44276 94%581$86,583$231,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Thorntown, IN 46071 94%395$85,000$240,200$154 larger
Shell Rock, IA 50670 94%69$84,679$171,500$134 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Danville, IA 52623 94%208$90,714$194,000$111 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Donnellson, IA 52625 94%217$80,078$205,300$125 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Hampton, IL 61256 94%185$90,406$184,900$157 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Sidney, IL 61877 94%344$96,750$209,700$146 smaller
Memphis, NY 13112 93%811$96,615$195,400$160 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Arlington, OH 45814 93%495$91,115$207,000$160 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Monroe, IA 50170 93%154$88,704$217,000$149 larger
Prairie City, IA 50228 93%151$90,833$211,400$169 Very close on everything we compare
Roland, IA 50236 93%117$85,046$198,900$179 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Winthrop, IA 50682 93%94$89,375$183,800$142 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Kingsley, IA 51028 93%188$78,000$219,600$202 Very close on everything we compare
Central City, IA 52214 93%118$86,786$234,600$129 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.