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 Hoffman, MN 56339

Hoffman: median income $60,893, home value $221,500, $171/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stratton, CO 80836 94%567$65,208$217,800$131 Very close on everything we compare
Smithton, PA 15479 92%899$63,852$202,700$204 larger
Malta, ID 83342 92%906$56,818$224,300$208 Very close on everything we compare
Ravenwood, MO 64479 91%382$61,184$150,700— cheaper homes ($71K less)
Inverness, MS 38753 90%905$59,000$159,300— cheaper homes ($62K less)
Lyons, OH 43533 90%651$64,342$169,800$136 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
New Springfield, OH 44443 90%834$56,957$218,900$161 more apartments and townhomes
Blair, WI 54616 89%247$72,222$180,900$146 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Rossville, KS 66533 89%461$62,237$195,100$146 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Eckert, CO 81418 89%785$54,417$266,000$203 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Ferron, UT 84523 89%909$71,212$229,500$204 Very close on everything we compare
Hildebran, NC 28637 88%1,023$67,500$197,900$185 larger · older residents
New Ellenton, SC 29809 88%1,136$55,234$154,800$156 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Kellogg, IA 50135 88%318$65,250$165,200$157 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older homes
Elma, IA 50628 88%243$68,750$153,500— cheaper homes ($68K less)
La Farge, WI 54639 88%296$61,375$209,700$130 larger
Ector, TX 75439 88%846$64,500$155,400$166 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Hansen, ID 83334 88%943$64,583$272,800$235 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Hazelton, ID 83335 88%933$61,053$251,300$226 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Orrstown, PA 17244 87%998$70,729$207,500$172 larger
Guthrie, KY 42234 87%772$58,259$165,300$173 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Mineral City, OH 44656 87%812$58,852$208,700$199 larger · older residents
Melbourne, IA 50162 87%301$71,417$176,600$135 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Cambria, WI 53923 87%363$72,500$220,700$184 larger · older homes
Coleman, WI 54112 87%378$71,141$186,000$180 cheaper homes ($36K 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.