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 Walnut Grove, MN 56180

Walnut Grove: median income $67,689, home value $131,600, $47/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harvard, NE 68944 94%282$69,432$125,800— Very close on everything we compare
Plainview, NE 68769 92%173$61,833$122,500$52 older residents
Lenox, IA 50851 91%236$70,926$121,000— larger
Scotland, SD 57059 91%135$59,779$121,500$60 Very close on everything we compare
Nichols, NY 13812 90%975$82,679$143,800$49 larger
Arnold, NE 69120 90%304$69,886$158,200— pricier homes ($27K more)
Elma, IA 50628 89%168$68,750$153,500— newer homes
Dakota, IL 61018 89%325$76,471$157,800— pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Elgin, NE 68636 89%203$78,056$113,800— Very close on everything we compare
Geary, OK 73040 89%614$61,328$117,000$56 newer homes
Fontanelle, IA 50846 88%209$74,200$108,800— older residents
Edina, MO 63537 88%328$59,891$105,000$48 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Harper, KS 67058 88%497$62,121$96,200$52 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Genoa, NE 68640 88%224$68,036$142,400$59 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, NE 68748 88%193$69,740$148,800$68 larger
Golden Meadow, LA 70357 88%1,065$71,383$132,900$45 larger · older residents
Scranton, IA 51462 87%160$69,286$146,300— older homes
Eddyville, IA 52553 87%258$64,583$150,000— older residents
Clarkson, NE 68629 87%193$78,438$132,800— more homeowners
Emerson, NE 68733 87%148$64,479$132,600— older residents
Dayton, IA 50530 86%154$73,250$167,900— pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Atwood, IL 61913 86%473$65,500$128,700$73 Very close on everything we compare
Lyons, KS 67554 86%430$64,125$107,900$60 larger
Odonnell, TX 79351 86%849$66,853$98,900— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Gilmore City, IA 50541 85%118$56,364$95,500$64 cheaper homes ($36K 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.