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 Swanville, MN 56382

Swanville: median income $76,125, home value $277,800, $133/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dornsife, PA 17823 94%964$78,864$232,100— cheaper homes ($46K less)
Harlan, IN 46743 94%588$81,406$217,800$161 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Lawtons, NY 14091 93%811$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Dixon Springs, TN 37057 93%792$78,940$224,200$160 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Petersburg, PA 16669 92%912$78,977$215,500$113 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Kingsley, PA 18826 92%980$88,958$267,800$150 Very close on everything we compare
Orlinda, TN 37141 92%764$76,250$237,000$117 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Bainbridge, IN 46105 92%582$87,736$248,500$142 cheaper homes ($29K less)
San Pierre, IN 46374 92%507$91,250$226,900$132 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Lakeville, IN 46536 92%517$78,448$227,000$164 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Deputy, IN 47230 92%675$80,729$238,400$129 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · younger residents
Deer Park, WI 54007 92%122$85,398$309,400— pricier homes ($32K more)
Birnamwood, WI 54414 92%272$72,500$200,100$138 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Gilman, WI 54433 92%191$69,000$194,400$159 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Melrose, WI 54642 92%215$73,452$210,600$152 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Almond, WI 54909 92%281$80,417$195,800$139 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Belfield, ND 58622 92%409$82,692$239,000$140 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Bartlett, TX 76511 92%1,057$69,286$222,900$132 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Milan, NH 03588 91%1,140$71,538$253,500$155 older residents
Liverpool, PA 17045 91%958$76,800$230,300$143 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
York Springs, PA 17372 91%973$82,313$282,700$158 larger
Paint Lick, KY 40461 91%778$71,212$201,800$148 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Heltonville, IN 47436 91%640$75,278$210,800$166 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Potosi, WI 53820 91%297$77,083$201,900$141 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Hixton, WI 54635 91%204$72,566$209,100$110 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents

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.