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 Alden, MN 56009

Alden: median income $80,804, home value $203,700, $108/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockwell, IA 50469 95%48$71,250$211,700$97 Very close on everything we compare
Swayzee, IN 46986 93%453$79,438$162,600$112 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Aurelia, IA 51005 93%114$75,938$169,200$93 cheaper homes ($35K less)
South Wayne, WI 53587 93%200$90,250$203,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Andalusia, IL 61232 93%211$73,971$186,100$118 Very close on everything we compare
Mead, NE 68041 93%223$74,000$251,300— pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Dorchester, NE 68343 93%275$74,554$173,400$99 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Stanley, NY 14561 92%829$77,857$195,700$152 Very close on everything we compare
Adair, IA 50002 92%157$79,071$237,700$139 pricier homes ($34K more)
Howard, SD 57349 92%200$75,179$153,000$130 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Remington, IN 47977 91%384$80,000$167,100$87 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Jewell, IA 50130 91%92$78,594$169,000$125 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min longer commute
Marcus, IA 51035 91%126$79,338$209,700$109 younger residents
Lake Park, IA 51347 91%88$82,750$201,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 91%91$84,609$217,500$101 younger residents
Enderlin, ND 58027 91%284$75,774$159,500$129 cheaper homes ($44K less)
New Riegel, OH 44853 90%553$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents
New Madison, OH 45346 90%522$77,083$161,300$110 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 6 min longer commute
Anita, IA 50020 90%164$75,417$154,600$114 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 90%37$93,482$204,100$112 larger · younger residents
Garwin, IA 50632 90%117$71,667$132,700$123 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Merrill, IA 51038 90%148$95,893$183,100$132 younger residents
Bertrand, NE 68927 90%374$69,167$183,700— Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, NJ 08311 89%994$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Durhamville, NY 13054 89%898$94,100$227,500$96 Very close on everything we compare

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.