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 New Ulm, MN 56073

New Ulm: median income $70,250, home value $218,700, $140/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carroll, IA 51401 97%156$70,702$195,700$141 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, MO 64505 94%312$73,298$191,100$132 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Nebraska City, NE 68410 94%261$71,640$182,900$135 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Archbold, OH 43502 93%548$74,925$203,300$177 smaller
Warsaw, IN 46580 93%485$71,687$192,600$148 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Manchester, IA 52057 93%197$69,635$184,300$142 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Ashland, WI 54806 93%238$64,864$185,800$112 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Rice Lake, WI 54868 93%157$64,318$227,800$158 Very close on everything we compare
Miles City, MT 59301 93%570$71,332$217,900— Very close on everything we compare
Effingham, IL 62401 93%470$82,374$217,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Worland, WY 82401 93%668$65,583$203,600$147 smaller
Algona, IA 50511 92%86$66,642$180,800$117 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Alliance, NE 69301 92%450$68,371$169,900$145 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Torrington, WY 82240 92%514$60,766$244,700$120 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Battle Creek, MI 49015 91%485$68,821$184,300$140 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hillsdale, MI 49242 91%523$61,029$183,700$147 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Grinnell, IA 50112 91%197$67,078$214,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
New Hampton, IA 50659 91%138$78,153$206,900$122 smaller
Spencer, IA 51301 91%87$63,402$188,300$122 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Marinette, WI 54143 91%338$64,491$142,900$138 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Columbus, NE 68601 91%247$68,480$221,900$125 larger
Nederland, TX 77627 91%991$78,001$208,700$154 Very close on everything we compare
Port Neches, TX 77651 91%990$81,637$253,200$150 pricier homes ($35K more)
North East, PA 16428 90%749$78,675$193,300$168 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 6 min longer commute
Williamsport, PA 17702 90%907$70,210$196,900$146 smaller · 6 min longer commute

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.