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 Madelia, MN 56062

Madelia: median income $76,713, home value $182,500, $142/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Genoa, OH 43430 93%586$73,807$156,700$138 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
North Rose, NY 14516 91%875$76,000$172,400$114 Very close on everything we compare
Neola, IA 51559 91%190$74,761$201,800$123 smaller
Woodville, OH 43469 90%588$86,410$205,500$161 older residents
Pandora, OH 45877 90%574$68,665$179,200$145 older residents
Bourbon, IN 46504 90%462$74,567$184,300$168 newer homes
Grundy Center, IA 50638 90%142$85,223$185,200$135 newer homes
Dwight, IL 60420 90%367$71,157$167,100$151 more renters
Lyndon, KS 66451 90%380$76,908$158,500$123 smaller
Shelton, NE 68876 90%316$82,207$163,800$108 smaller
Monroeville, OH 44847 89%626$76,060$187,500$157 older residents
South Whitley, IN 46787 89%492$62,242$166,600$126 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, IN 46910 89%474$69,226$204,200$123 newer homes
Hagerstown, IN 47346 89%554$70,000$144,300$114 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Shirley, IN 47384 89%538$74,167$158,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Ithaca, MI 48847 89%492$66,264$172,500$123 larger · older residents
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 89%150$80,119$149,700$111 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Readlyn, IA 50668 89%145$85,956$174,000$118 smaller
Logan, IA 51546 89%180$86,910$207,900$163 pricier homes ($25K more)
Preston, IA 52069 89%245$75,313$169,500$155 smaller · older residents
Shullsburg, WI 53586 89%234$70,806$166,100$106 older residents
Forreston, IL 61030 89%278$71,655$157,200$130 cheaper homes ($25K less) · newer homes
Garnett, KS 66032 89%401$69,647$175,600$133 larger · newer homes
Scipio Center, NY 13147 88%897$74,934$155,600$152 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Canajoharie, NY 13317 88%995$72,500$139,400$123 cheaper homes ($43K less)

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.