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 Bowlus, MN 56314

Bowlus: median income $95,972, home value $262,800, $175/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laura, OH 45337 95%647$108,162$228,700$155 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Milo, IA 50166 91%316$107,279$252,900$135 Very close on everything we compare
Ogdensburg, WI 54962 91%281$83,452$205,500$209 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Grant Park, IL 60940 91%463$97,361$271,900$163 larger
Monroe Center, IL 61052 91%371$91,797$225,700$174 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Downey, ID 83234 91%906$81,083$229,300$178 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Newburg, PA 17240 90%935$91,429$256,300$175 larger
Kingsley, PA 18826 90%968$88,958$267,800$150 older residents
Newport, OH 45768 90%802$84,286$204,400$176 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Dansville, MI 48819 90%549$110,833$254,500$156 larger
Bernard, IA 52032 90%298$88,500$269,000$214 older residents
Colton, SD 57018 90%187$97,500$252,700$146 Very close on everything we compare
Washington Boro, PA 17582 89%992$100,263$304,800$211 pricier homes ($42K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Dornsife, PA 17823 89%952$78,864$232,100— cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Marion Station, MD 21838 89%1,096$88,438$202,400$193 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Dixon Springs, TN 37057 89%779$78,940$224,200$160 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Huntsburg, OH 44046 89%728$80,625$222,200$185 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 7 min longer commute
Diamond, OH 44412 89%745$102,726$282,300$168 larger
Bainbridge, IN 46105 89%568$87,736$248,500$142 newer homes
Flat Rock, IN 47234 89%625$101,708$199,800$148 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Trufant, MI 49347 89%477$91,477$177,100$223 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Strum, WI 54770 89%171$83,636$226,500$189 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Kingston, IL 60145 89%380$108,477$268,300$191 larger
Lawtons, NY 14091 88%799$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Wanatah, IN 46390 88%485$87,639$228,000$130 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 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.