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 Wells, MN 56097

Wells: median income $62,264, home value $133,800, $91/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ackley, IA 50601 95%89$66,250$127,200$86 smaller
Corning, IA 50841 95%197$66,875$116,700$95 Very close on everything we compare
George, IA 51237 95%116$61,667$159,500$89 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Stockton, IL 61085 95%211$59,798$131,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16102 94%707$56,053$104,900$84 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Bessemer, MI 49911 94%261$57,000$106,300$87 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Pittsfield, IL 62363 94%324$58,500$118,000$86 larger
Ballinger, TX 76821 94%895$63,380$112,900$94 Very close on everything we compare
Johnstown, PA 15909 93%795$61,016$110,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Britt, IA 50423 93%44$73,151$118,900$89 smaller
Pocahontas, IA 50574 93%85$60,469$110,300$83 smaller
Walnut, IL 61376 93%259$61,200$128,400$91 smaller
Rock Port, MO 64482 93%247$66,534$120,000$97 smaller
Brookfield, MO 64628 93%276$59,361$123,500$110 larger
Ellinwood, KS 67526 93%450$57,824$123,400$77 Very close on everything we compare
Stoystown, PA 15563 92%799$62,411$139,600$128 Very close on everything we compare
Walton, IN 46994 92%436$56,563$136,200$102 smaller
Audubon, IA 50025 92%152$52,438$118,100$97 Very close on everything we compare
Corydon, IA 50060 92%206$63,438$117,300$106 newer homes
Northwood, IA 50459 92%32$71,618$149,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, IA 50833 92%219$61,042$112,900$69 smaller
Sibley, IA 51249 92%103$61,500$160,700$117 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Fulton, IL 61252 92%224$59,861$141,500$88 larger
Eureka, KS 67045 92%430$62,629$110,100$80 5 min longer commute
Abilene, KS 67410 92%378$65,855$146,700$98 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.