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 Pennock, MN 56279

Pennock: median income $84,000, home value $231,700, $176/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lewisville, ID 83431 96%836$90,833$241,700$208 Very close on everything we compare
Botkins, OH 45306 95%643$86,354$255,600$157 larger
Chili, WI 54420 93%238$79,899$201,300$202 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Cottonwood, ID 83522 93%1,024$79,688$250,000$178 larger
Jones, MI 49061 92%518$79,229$223,500$161 larger
Sully, IA 50251 92%272$91,061$186,200$153 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Belmont, WI 53510 92%292$82,083$229,800$169 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, IN 47941 91%538$78,553$175,400$146 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Larchwood, IA 51241 91%132$87,446$280,600$145 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Hull, IA 51239 90%142$77,540$236,500$161 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Cleveland, WI 53015 90%374$88,810$222,200$164 larger
Elkton, SD 57026 90%90$80,568$213,200$130 more renters
Parker, SD 57053 90%154$93,393$273,800$212 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Mazon, IL 60444 90%434$87,614$219,000$188 larger · 7 min longer commute
Utica, NE 68456 90%311$89,550$202,900$137 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Pleasanton, NE 68866 90%349$94,792$262,300— pricier homes ($31K more)
New Berlin, PA 17855 89%962$88,929$216,700$151 older residents
Sherwood, OH 43556 89%597$73,125$195,900$138 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Sterling, OH 44276 89%732$86,583$231,300$152 larger · older residents
Mc Bain, MI 49657 89%492$76,250$196,400$165 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Inwood, IA 51240 89%141$83,929$232,600$123 larger
Walker, IA 52352 89%260$92,321$231,300$131 larger
Mediapolis, IA 52637 89%350$81,477$194,500$169 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Bangor, WI 54614 89%224$85,588$250,300$171 larger
Worthing, SD 57077 89%147$88,125$234,500$175 newer homes

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.