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 Mapleton, MN 56065

Mapleton: median income $92,933, home value $223,100, $146/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, NY 13112 95%880$96,615$195,400$160 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Pender, NE 68047 95%188$87,375$217,000$111 Very close on everything we compare
Luckey, OH 43443 94%559$97,917$207,100$115 smaller
Woodville, OH 43469 93%564$86,410$205,500$161 older residents
Weeping Water, NE 68463 93%239$85,972$199,500$128 smaller
Wilber, NE 68465 93%284$91,964$204,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Pierce, NE 68767 93%217$81,761$233,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Wood River, NE 68883 93%321$90,966$206,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Hegins, PA 17938 92%919$93,722$219,000$151 Very close on everything we compare
Helena, OH 43435 92%569$89,000$176,400$167 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Sully, IA 50251 92%172$91,061$186,200$153 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Grundy Center, IA 50638 92%123$85,223$185,200$135 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Leipsic, OH 45856 91%543$86,494$165,100$117 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Wakarusa, IN 46573 91%435$85,750$241,100$156 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, IA 50170 91%172$88,704$217,000$149 newer homes
Ossian, IA 52161 91%122$87,870$171,400$182 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Orion, IL 61273 91%254$99,032$187,400$171 cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Humphrey, NE 68642 91%238$93,798$266,400$191 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Elba, NY 14058 90%792$102,750$151,500$179 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Kendall, NY 14476 90%796$90,536$188,800$192 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Elmore, OH 43416 90%568$88,611$197,100$158 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Burton, OH 44021 90%672$82,008$242,900$170 larger
Roland, IA 50236 90%124$85,046$198,900$179 smaller · older residents
Shell Rock, IA 50670 90%109$84,679$171,500$134 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Winthrop, IA 50682 90%150$89,375$183,800$142 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 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.