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 Hanska, MN 56041

Hanska: median income $80,833, home value $197,700, $151/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Palmyra, MI 49268 97%556$80,833$164,600$176 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Stanley, NY 14561 94%874$77,857$195,700$152 larger
Lake Park, IA 51347 94%64$82,750$201,600$157 newer homes
New Riegel, OH 44853 93%607$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Merrill, IA 51038 93%133$95,893$183,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
Mead, NE 68041 93%226$74,000$251,300— pricier homes ($54K more)
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 91%592$77,083$208,700$140 larger
Darlington, IN 47940 91%484$70,711$152,100$157 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Anita, IA 50020 91%187$75,417$154,600$114 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Odell, IL 60460 91%373$91,154$156,100$121 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Pilot Rock, OR 97868 91%1,193$91,813$218,200$165 larger
Cedarville, NJ 08311 90%1,046$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Cygnet, OH 43413 90%586$80,069$139,700$137 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Nevada, OH 44849 90%622$69,902$145,700$166 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Greens Fork, IN 47345 90%567$73,750$155,600$136 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Reynolds, IL 61279 90%276$87,656$161,500$128 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min longer commute
Leigh, NE 68643 90%219$77,125$156,900— cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Andrews, IN 46702 89%506$77,727$158,300$143 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Oxford, IN 47971 89%447$64,375$152,600$149 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Jewell, IA 50130 89%134$78,594$169,000$125 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Glidden, IA 51443 89%145$78,906$191,000$139 larger
Ainsworth, IA 52201 89%246$93,750$181,600$147 Very close on everything we compare
Howard, SD 57349 89%152$75,179$153,000$130 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Canton, KS 67428 89%427$75,815$147,600$115 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Grace, ID 83241 89%872$71,298$215,200$182 larger

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.