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 International Falls, MN 56649

International Falls: median income $64,736, home value $153,600, $103/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ogallala, NE 69153 96%656$61,946$163,000$111 smaller
Iron Mountain, MI 49801 95%316$67,337$168,700$125 Very close on everything we compare
Houlton, ME 04730 93%1,202$61,980$145,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Algona, IA 50511 93%384$66,642$180,800$117 pricier homes ($27K more)
Macon, MO 63552 93%613$65,210$163,800$123 5 min longer commute
Harlan, IA 51537 92%490$65,000$166,800$108 younger residents
Fulton, IL 61252 92%492$59,861$141,500$88 smaller
Brookfield, MO 64628 92%609$59,361$123,500$110 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Oneill, NE 68763 92%492$65,362$162,800$95 smaller
Munising, MI 49862 91%348$61,340$169,400$127 smaller
Clarion, IA 50525 91%406$67,250$128,800$98 smaller
Charles City, IA 50616 91%384$64,830$140,600$99 Very close on everything we compare
Waukon, IA 52172 91%380$68,875$166,100$115 smaller
Saint Marys, PA 15857 90%876$67,662$150,100$161 Very close on everything we compare
Coudersport, PA 16915 90%886$61,781$181,800$130 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Kingsford, MI 49802 90%316$62,209$126,500$116 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Marinette, WI 54143 90%364$64,491$142,900$138 larger
Princeton, IL 61356 90%536$68,243$152,900$128 5 min longer commute
Robinson, IL 62454 90%720$74,679$138,200$88 younger residents
Perry, OK 73077 90%873$62,763$132,700$111 younger residents
Worland, WY 82401 90%762$65,583$203,600$147 pricier homes ($50K more)
Kenova, WV 25530 89%892$70,508$162,100$112 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Bryan, OH 43506 89%654$60,234$162,000$132 larger
Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 89%805$64,904$167,800$156 smaller
Manistique, MI 49854 89%380$55,944$125,400$109 cheaper homes ($28K 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.