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 Underwood, ND 58576

Underwood: median income $102,614, home value $196,700, $75/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Hartford, IA 50660 90%537$95,969$190,900$98 older residents
Shelby, NE 68662 90%471$89,706$168,900$93 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Arlington, SD 57212 88%291$93,750$238,100— pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Lahoma, OK 73754 88%782$95,625$155,300$117 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Deshler, OH 43516 87%954$89,000$150,900$73 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Newport, NY 13416 86%1,300$85,128$185,500$80 larger
Lawtons, NY 14091 86%1,135$82,833$236,200— pricier homes ($40K more)
Lone Tree, IA 52755 86%632$102,434$242,700$127 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 86%724$78,958$186,300— larger
Buskirk, NY 12028 85%1,378$96,891$247,700— pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents
Prosperity, PA 15329 85%1,159$92,917$237,500— pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents · less walkable
Dunkerton, IA 50626 85%555$84,306$209,400$91 6 min shorter commute
Green Valley, IL 61534 85%751$90,104$167,300$108 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Albers, IL 62215 85%848$107,727$204,700$127 larger
South New Berlin, NY 13843 84%1,299$79,018$175,500$65 larger
Springville, PA 18844 84%1,299$92,750$246,300— pricier homes ($50K more) · older residents
Ireton, IA 51027 84%390$100,893$227,200$82 pricier homes ($31K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 84%641$79,990$225,700$107 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Douglass, KS 67039 84%719$91,964$201,500$105 larger
Mount Ayr, IA 50854 83%580$81,250$161,800$78 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older homes
Danville, IA 52623 83%668$90,714$194,000$111 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Benton, WI 53803 83%628$79,545$163,700$115 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Ashkum, IL 60911 83%797$89,792$158,700$91 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Mackinaw, IL 61755 83%757$102,225$203,600$105 larger
Divernon, IL 62530 83%793$82,188$160,100$104 cheaper homes ($37K less)

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.