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 Utica, MN 55979

Utica: median income $85,417, home value $279,700, $173/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Malta, IL 60150 89%210$86,719$188,400$200 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Port Trevorton, PA 17864 88%799$79,881$208,000$183 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Loganville, WI 53943 87%103$73,000$225,600— cheaper homes ($54K less)
Chaseburg, WI 54621 87%47$94,286$280,000$202 older residents · newer homes
Weeping Water, NE 68463 87%303$85,972$199,500$128 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Cairo, NE 68824 87%397$77,989$219,900$115 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Larchwood, IA 51241 86%227$87,446$280,600$145 larger · newer homes
Fairfield, MT 59436 86%996$80,652$324,100$220 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Miles, TX 76861 86%963$85,714$218,200$171 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · older residents
Otis, CO 80743 85%620$67,734$226,300$154 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Downey, ID 83234 85%1,019$81,083$229,300$178 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Ririe, ID 83443 85%976$65,590$247,700$180 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Rebersburg, PA 16872 84%768$72,708$199,200— cheaper homes ($81K less)
Helena, OH 43435 84%474$89,000$176,400$167 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Jones, MI 49061 84%340$79,229$223,500$161 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Parker, SD 57053 84%262$93,393$273,800$212 larger · older residents
Menan, ID 83434 84%996$82,731$277,400$192 larger · older residents
Landisburg, PA 17040 83%789$78,824$261,900$183 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Loganton, PA 17747 83%771$71,731$208,000$176 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Bethel, PA 19507 83%835$93,177$271,700$172 larger · newer homes
Mount Victory, OH 43340 83%493$72,446$192,900$201 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Wayne, OH 43466 83%468$87,438$177,400$208 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
De Soto, IA 50069 83%199$98,056$232,100$202 cheaper homes ($48K less) · newer homes
Strum, WI 54770 83%50$83,636$226,500$189 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · older residents
Powers Lake, ND 58773 83%606$103,750$262,500— 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.