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 Warren, MN 56762

Warren: median income $62,933, home value $160,100, $102/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Steeleville, IL 62288 95%793$67,159$177,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Stanberry, MO 64489 95%566$54,519$167,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Burlington, KS 66839 95%695$63,077$175,500$119 larger
Wheeler, TX 79096 95%904$67,165$160,600$88 Very close on everything we compare
Abbotsford, WI 54405 94%382$69,659$177,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Colby, WI 54421 94%384$60,820$194,500$114 pricier homes ($34K more)
Hugoton, KS 67951 94%800$63,527$131,500$103 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Ord, NE 68862 94%473$60,321$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Neligh, NE 68756 93%427$61,667$158,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Valentine, NE 69201 93%420$62,101$161,300$106 larger
Falls Creek, PA 15840 92%1,006$57,344$123,100$123 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Ashley, IN 46705 92%737$67,266$159,700$131 Very close on everything we compare
Alta, IA 51002 92%392$70,625$167,100$118 Very close on everything we compare
Winner, SD 57580 92%371$59,547$133,900$94 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Milan, MO 63556 92%586$58,851$124,100$107 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Chariton, IA 50049 91%528$61,190$124,900$107 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Corydon, IA 50060 91%544$63,438$117,300$106 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Lenox, IA 50851 91%521$70,926$121,000— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Sibley, IA 51249 91%339$61,500$160,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, SD 57062 91%377$62,321$134,900$110 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Parkston, SD 57366 91%341$78,155$184,600$104 Very close on everything we compare
Lakota, ND 58344 91%74$66,957$159,000$91 smaller
Cut Bank, MT 59427 91%714$61,094$174,300$115 larger · older homes
Ladd, IL 61329 91%602$67,321$129,600$118 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older homes
Mount Sterling, IL 62353 91%645$66,000$152,100$128 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.