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 Dow, IL 62022

Dow: median income $110,703, home value $188,300, $109/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Wayne, WI 53587 84%246$90,250$203,900$100 more homeowners
West Manchester, OH 45382 83%309$95,652$200,000$77 more homeowners · older homes
New Madison, OH 45346 81%304$77,083$161,300$110 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Clarksville, IA 50619 81%288$84,076$163,200$112 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Paullina, IA 51046 81%392$84,125$160,300$96 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Norway, IA 52318 81%215$85,625$188,400$124 lower income ($25K less) · more homeowners
Radcliffe, IA 50230 80%280$87,778$165,300$107 more homeowners · older homes
Nora Springs, IA 50458 80%317$99,643$157,500$89 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Calmar, IA 52132 80%300$100,559$231,600$124 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · younger residents
West Mansfield, OH 43358 79%372$89,121$218,600$133 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more homeowners
Attica, OH 44807 79%416$87,356$153,200$120 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more homeowners
Milton, IN 47357 79%280$99,028$155,800$92 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Merrill, IA 51038 79%400$95,893$183,100$132 younger residents · more homeowners
West Alexander, PA 15376 78%527$86,607$218,900$121 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Delmar, IA 52037 78%205$90,813$198,400$91 younger residents · more homeowners
Bird Island, MN 55310 78%460$87,292$160,500$113 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more homeowners
Brownton, MN 55312 78%445$100,568$236,300$137 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Alden, MN 56009 78%361$80,804$203,700$108 lower income ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Dorchester, NE 68343 78%378$74,554$173,400$99 lower income ($36K less)
South Solon, OH 43153 77%361$90,417$184,000$115 9 min longer commute · older homes
Fletcher, OH 45326 77%339$93,472$154,400$177 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Jewell, IA 50130 77%286$78,594$169,000$125 lower income ($32K less) · more homeowners
Griswold, IA 51535 77%297$76,371$152,300$137 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Alburnett, IA 52202 77%227$105,362$246,300$120 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents
Brandon, WI 53919 77%334$97,019$223,400$150 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 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.