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.

Reset

Towns most like Plainview, MN 55964

Plainview: median income $84,318, home value $253,200, $172/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lima, NY 14485 89%733$80,341$207,400$215 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Sioux City, IA 51108 88%239$81,205$169,700$150 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Sturtevant, WI 53177 88%236$90,769$250,000$206 larger · less walkable
Minoa, NY 13116 87%810$95,506$179,400$194 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Lake City, PA 16423 86%614$74,635$168,200$164 cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
Richmond, MI 48062 86%478$82,045$268,400$176 larger · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Mascoutah, IL 62258 86%412$94,655$232,500$150 larger
Randolph Center, VT 05061 85%969$75,761$337,300$191 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller
Annville, PA 17003 85%840$92,209$250,300$196 larger · less walkable
Castle Dale, UT 84513 85%1,029$82,958$218,200$152 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · less walkable
Farmington, NM 87402 85%981$79,461$284,200$201 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · newer homes
New Wilmington, PA 16142 84%636$84,205$226,300$153 cheaper homes ($27K less) · less walkable
Womelsdorf, PA 19567 84%856$91,458$250,600$168 less walkable
Hampton, VA 23664 84%964$87,412$285,600$216 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Winterset, IA 50273 84%216$82,633$219,400$200 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · less walkable
Elk Point, SD 57025 84%247$94,839$237,900$179 less walkable
Adams Center, NY 13606 83%802$88,977$203,900$143 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · less walkable
Aurora, NE 68818 83%376$81,045$263,900$123 less walkable
Bradford, VT 05033 82%991$105,250$255,600$164 older residents
Reading, PA 19609 82%867$82,576$247,300$188 larger · older homes
Minster, OH 45865 82%476$89,000$286,300$177 pricier homes ($33K more) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Wahoo, NE 68066 82%305$101,438$266,900$166 more renters · less walkable
Kemmerer, WY 83101 82%941$76,947$191,200$125 cheaper homes ($62K less) · less walkable
Eagar, AZ 85925 82%1,148$82,708$248,400$227 less walkable
Pennsville, NJ 08070 81%909$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents

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.