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 Ulen, MN 56585

Ulen: median income $71,250, home value $301,400, $125/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wysox, PA 18854 91%1,044$77,917$207,300$143 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Eleanor, WV 25070 91%934$78,578$249,100$110 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Ray, ND 58849 90%331$82,250$269,800$136 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Elgin, OR 97827 89%1,034$60,766$262,500$137 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Milan, NH 03588 88%1,215$71,538$253,500$155 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Orangeville, PA 17859 88%1,067$75,515$224,800$118 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Milan, PA 18831 88%1,034$82,132$216,900$122 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Staffordsville, KY 41256 88%934$60,583$203,800$142 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Schellsburg, PA 15559 87%1,005$61,902$211,700$133 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Fountain City, WI 54629 87%302$74,432$229,900$143 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Bridger, MT 59014 87%616$55,234$306,800$153 Very close on everything we compare
Franklin, ME 04634 86%1,353$67,589$264,600$166 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Glendale, KY 42740 86%842$88,066$238,900$105 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Tabor, IA 51653 86%429$71,319$230,200$176 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Culdesac, ID 83524 86%963$63,333$249,400$168 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min longer commute
Coulee City, WA 99115 86%1,073$62,708$247,200$155 cheaper homes ($54K less)
New Woodstock, NY 13122 85%1,037$81,500$282,300$149 Very close on everything we compare
Millville, PA 17846 85%1,060$66,591$224,700$143 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Nicholson, PA 18446 85%1,077$71,157$206,400$134 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Wyalusing, PA 18853 85%1,052$67,250$225,200$129 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Markle, IN 46770 85%695$66,750$222,700$118 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Baroda, MI 49101 85%598$75,048$252,100$164 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Lake Preston, SD 57249 85%195$63,182$193,300— cheaper homes ($108K less)
Inyokern, CA 93527 85%1,363$62,596$319,000$157 larger · older residents
Dallesport, WA 98617 85%1,186$71,130$377,900$159 pricier homes ($77K more) · younger 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.