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 Minnesota Lake, MN 56068

Minnesota Lake: median income $74,250, home value $191,800, $116/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Schleswig, IA 51461 97%141$73,768$183,100— Very close on everything we compare
Fleming, CO 80728 95%512$67,863$225,000$126 pricier homes ($33K more)
Malinta, OH 43535 94%527$67,083$172,100$141 Very close on everything we compare
Elmwood, NE 68349 94%242$76,369$218,200$122 pricier homes ($26K more)
Shullsburg, WI 53586 93%201$70,806$166,100$106 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Delavan, IL 61734 93%325$71,435$152,700$100 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
La Crosse, IN 46348 92%394$64,375$168,800$109 Very close on everything we compare
Elizabeth, IL 61028 92%211$86,053$174,400$118 larger
East Bethany, NY 14054 91%790$79,286$172,300$142 younger residents
North Rose, NY 14516 91%847$76,000$172,400$114 larger
Paris, OH 44669 91%680$82,411$202,100$153 larger
Ladoga, IN 47954 91%451$81,364$188,200$140 larger
Dysart, IA 52224 91%138$69,805$177,000$90 larger
Wayland, IA 52654 91%216$84,783$149,700$102 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Dakota, IL 61018 91%237$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($34K less)
Atlanta, IL 61723 91%341$85,230$150,800$113 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Mount Hope, KS 67108 91%458$87,679$160,500$116 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Wyoming, NY 14591 90%793$85,804$163,500$96 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Fredericktown, PA 15333 90%757$89,333$185,600$112 larger
Colo, IA 50056 90%128$73,333$184,500$148 older residents
Jewell, IA 50130 90%105$78,594$169,000$125 older residents
Melbourne, IA 50162 90%136$71,417$176,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Sheffield, IA 50475 90%73$70,938$165,300$122 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 90%140$72,857$150,700$95 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Benton, WI 53803 90%196$79,545$163,700$115 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 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.