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 Burtrum, MN 56318

Burtrum: median income $84,297, home value $272,200, $168/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Poplar, WI 54864 96%145$91,250$242,100$182 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Kingsley, PA 18826 94%982$88,958$267,800$150 Very close on everything we compare
Sedley, VA 23878 94%1,110$87,077$219,900$174 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Deer Park, WI 54007 94%124$85,398$309,400— pricier homes ($37K more)
Genoa, WI 54632 94%237$82,500$236,100— cheaper homes ($36K less)
Monroe Center, IL 61052 94%385$91,797$225,700$174 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Lawtons, NY 14091 93%813$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($36K less)
Bainbridge, IN 46105 93%582$87,736$248,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Harlan, IN 46743 93%589$81,406$217,800$161 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Heltonville, IN 47436 93%640$75,278$210,800$166 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Arena, WI 53503 93%301$87,361$239,900$198 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Dornsife, PA 17823 92%966$78,864$232,100— cheaper homes ($40K less)
Sugar Valley, GA 30746 92%933$81,696$238,000$175 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents
Dixon Springs, TN 37057 92%791$78,940$224,200$160 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Saint Cloud, WI 53079 92%350$86,667$260,000$181 Very close on everything we compare
Scandinavia, WI 54977 92%287$81,328$249,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Dearborn, MO 64439 92%440$91,136$286,100$194 Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, MO 65046 92%504$76,458$210,100$170 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Andover, NH 03216 91%1,135$88,311$358,800$194 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Monroe, ME 04951 91%1,246$81,300$220,300$191 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Newburg, PA 17240 91%950$91,429$256,300$175 larger
York Springs, PA 17372 91%975$82,313$282,700$158 larger
Marion Station, MD 21838 91%1,110$88,438$202,400$193 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Diamond, OH 44412 91%759$102,726$282,300$168 larger
Newport, OH 45768 91%816$84,286$204,400$176 cheaper homes ($68K less)

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.