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 Hancock, MN 56244

Hancock: median income $85,417, home value $162,100, $112/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hawarden, IA 51023 92%176$80,357$173,300$99 larger
West Bend, IA 50597 91%188$92,000$179,700— Very close on everything we compare
Freeman, SD 57029 90%169$73,750$179,700$107 older residents
Arthur, IL 61911 90%547$82,633$171,600$88 larger
Utica, NE 68456 90%326$89,550$202,900$137 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Alta, IA 51002 89%196$70,625$167,100$118 larger
Hospers, IA 51238 89%167$74,000$182,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Arcola, IL 61910 89%553$88,538$143,200$108 larger · newer homes
Hoxie, KS 67740 89%488$75,417$186,600— Very close on everything we compare
Booker, TX 79005 89%672$70,223$155,900$114 newer homes
Stryker, OH 43557 88%634$84,950$158,900$104 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Sully, IA 50251 88%309$91,061$186,200$153 7 min longer commute
Boyden, IA 51234 88%159$84,318$211,800— pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Elkton, SD 57026 88%94$80,568$213,200$130 pricier homes ($51K more)
Fairbury, IL 61739 88%492$76,555$164,400$112 larger
Quinter, KS 67752 88%501$74,861$133,100$76 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Syracuse, KS 67878 88%603$71,850$118,800— cheaper homes ($43K less)
Parkston, SD 57366 87%180$78,155$184,600$104 older residents
Platte, SD 57369 87%211$78,100$237,400— pricier homes ($75K more)
Ellendale, ND 58436 87%135$69,286$164,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Tribune, KS 67879 87%572$80,536$114,800— cheaper homes ($47K less)
Osceola, NE 68651 87%310$78,487$191,300$99 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Sunray, TX 79086 87%727$70,648$137,700$93 larger · 5 min longer commute
Hull, IA 51239 86%160$77,540$236,500$161 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Martin, SD 57551 85%334$70,096$161,900— more renters

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.