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 Westbrook, MN 56183

Westbrook: median income $45,536, home value $138,400, $109/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harlowton, MT 59036 93%719$50,000$186,000$91 pricier homes ($48K more)
Elkton, MI 48731 92%609$53,021$115,500$106 Very close on everything we compare
Audubon, IA 50025 91%163$52,438$118,100$97 larger
Rushville, NE 69360 91%365$52,402$116,000— Very close on everything we compare
Culbertson, NE 69024 90%384$52,337$106,900— cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Archer City, TX 76351 90%746$46,484$138,900$121 6 min longer commute
Julesburg, CO 80737 89%408$52,500$161,700$90 Very close on everything we compare
Dorris, CA 96023 89%1,344$47,237$171,800$133 pricier homes ($33K more)
Falls Creek, PA 15840 88%867$57,344$123,100$123 larger
Morrill, NE 69358 88%453$52,159$152,800$137 larger · older residents
Pioneer, OH 43554 87%575$52,917$161,000$119 larger
Wenona, IL 61377 87%386$57,321$139,500$86 5 min longer commute
East Millinocket, ME 04430 86%1,314$42,011$86,200$88 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Michigantown, IN 46057 86%530$53,173$187,600$137 pricier homes ($49K more) · 6 min longer commute
Mount Morris, IL 61054 86%333$47,467$121,400$103 larger
Lyons, NE 68038 86%156$51,362$117,700$112 9 min longer commute
Fullerton, NE 68638 86%227$56,917$144,500$96 6 min longer commute
Bassett, NE 68714 86%231$52,031$132,500— 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Arapahoe, NE 68922 86%346$57,426$107,900— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Seymour, TX 76380 86%752$45,880$103,100$115 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Hamilton, TX 76531 86%868$49,100$126,300$111 larger
Limestone, ME 04750 85%1,343$48,750$96,600$121 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Castile, NY 14427 85%877$56,490$134,800$128 5 min longer commute
Vickery, OH 43464 85%661$41,471$124,100$110 larger · 6 min longer commute
Hampton, IA 50441 85%144$49,910$127,100$102 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.