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 La Crescent, MN 55947

La Crescent: median income $88,611, home value $302,200, $179/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68152 93%294$84,958$316,400$162 Very close on everything we compare
Landisville, PA 17538 90%807$86,719$299,300$188 5 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64145 90%381$95,159$370,100$170 pricier homes ($68K more)
Manchester, ME 04351 88%1,062$92,031$299,600$210 smaller
East Petersburg, PA 17520 88%810$93,235$265,700$211 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Frankenmuth, MI 48734 88%381$91,032$305,100$174 Very close on everything we compare
Vineland, NJ 08361 87%895$99,050$285,900$207 larger
Putney, VT 05346 86%944$79,118$320,800$202 less walkable
Brewerton, NY 13029 86%761$103,878$249,900$223 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Houston, PA 15342 86%621$92,402$247,300$165 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents
Millstadt, IL 62260 86%378$91,039$252,500$174 cheaper homes ($50K less) · less walkable
Vergennes, VT 05491 85%896$87,917$337,400$286 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min longer commute
Archbald, PA 18403 85%817$77,521$223,900$156 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Williamstown, WV 26187 85%595$83,226$198,300$145 cheaper homes ($104K less) · less walkable
Whitehouse, OH 43571 85%414$108,143$296,600$204 Very close on everything we compare
Stevensville, MI 49127 85%274$93,338$296,900$193 larger · less walkable
Monticello, IL 61856 85%299$103,559$230,900$155 cheaper homes ($71K less) · younger residents
Shiner, TX 77984 85%1,046$92,656$213,100$178 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Feeding Hills, MA 01030 84%949$93,815$327,700$248 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more renters
Watertown, CT 06795 84%935$104,850$365,500$244 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Livonia, NY 14487 84%690$89,688$228,100$242 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 7 min longer commute
Centre Hall, PA 16828 84%727$76,468$273,800$192 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Canfield, OH 44406 84%572$98,693$286,400$174 larger
Clayton, OH 45315 84%452$92,333$213,300$156 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Williamston, MI 48895 84%362$93,418$294,600$157 larger · 6 min longer commute · less walkable

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.