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 Amboy, MN 56010

Amboy: median income $80,156, home value $167,900, $111/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Radcliffe, IA 50230 94%115$87,778$165,300$107 Very close on everything we compare
Gowrie, IA 50543 93%112$91,563$155,100— Very close on everything we compare
Munger, MI 48747 91%520$81,458$141,300$109 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Clarksville, IA 50619 91%107$84,076$163,200$112 larger
Gladbrook, IA 50635 91%140$81,125$154,700$95 5 min shorter commute
Attica, OH 44807 90%606$87,356$153,200$120 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Royal Center, IN 46978 90%444$78,750$130,000$119 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Milton, IN 47357 90%545$99,028$155,800$92 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IA 50468 90%84$73,403$173,700— 6 min shorter commute
Tripoli, IA 50676 90%122$87,115$154,500$144 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Delmar, IA 52037 90%223$90,813$198,400$91 pricier homes ($31K more)
Worcester, NY 12197 89%980$77,778$165,200$150 larger
Fredericktown, PA 15333 89%775$89,333$185,600$112 larger · newer homes
Sheffield, IL 61361 89%285$91,250$147,200$88 younger residents
Cherry Valley, NY 13320 88%977$86,204$184,600$126 larger
Wyoming, NY 14591 88%810$85,804$163,500$96 newer homes
Clarksville, PA 15322 88%774$87,635$111,500$100 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585 88%83$71,346$120,600$84 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Readlyn, IA 50668 88%129$85,956$174,000$118 younger residents
Elizabeth, IL 61028 88%229$86,053$174,400$118 newer homes
Ohio, IL 61349 88%290$71,375$119,200$126 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Flanagan, IL 61740 88%342$79,904$143,600$86 7 min shorter commute
Canton, KS 67428 88%416$75,815$147,600$115 Very close on everything we compare
Basom, NY 14013 87%792$72,768$160,200$149 younger residents
Ladoga, IN 47954 87%468$81,364$188,200$140 larger · newer homes

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.