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 Wabasso, MN 56293

Wabasso: median income $67,396, home value $170,500, $103/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tilden, NE 68781 98%208$67,212$171,700— Very close on everything we compare
Sanborn, IA 51248 96%86$64,375$172,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Lakota, ND 58344 96%287$66,957$159,000$91 Very close on everything we compare
Mellen, WI 54546 95%259$70,104$141,900$85 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Kimball, SD 57355 95%189$63,125$144,200— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Sherman, NY 14781 94%802$61,625$145,300$103 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Corsica, PA 15829 94%843$64,167$140,700$123 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Garnavillo, IA 52049 94%228$61,964$170,800$105 Very close on everything we compare
Eddyville, IA 52553 94%262$64,583$150,000— larger
Osmond, NE 68765 94%183$70,694$159,900$137 Very close on everything we compare
Croghan, NY 13327 93%985$66,875$181,300$144 larger
Rockwell, IA 50469 93%141$71,250$211,700$97 pricier homes ($41K more)
Marcus, IA 51035 93%113$79,338$209,700$109 pricier homes ($39K more)
Marion, SD 57043 93%121$64,375$221,500$81 pricier homes ($51K more)
Lamoure, ND 58458 93%203$73,250$172,300— Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, KS 66427 93%329$79,481$133,600— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Osceola, NE 68651 93%250$78,487$191,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Hartley, IA 51346 92%85$72,426$156,800$127 larger
Ruthven, IA 51358 92%89$64,583$150,500$74 Very close on everything we compare
Broadus, MT 59317 92%493$71,250$197,400— pricier homes ($27K more)
Hopedale, IL 61747 92%405$80,333$188,200$126 Very close on everything we compare
Mound City, MO 64470 92%295$70,833$165,800$123 older residents
Rock Port, MO 64482 92%275$66,534$120,000$97 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Keytesville, MO 65261 92%361$64,904$152,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Inman, KS 67546 92%447$76,739$192,800$107 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.