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 Saint Joseph, MO 64505

Saint Joseph: median income $73,298, home value $191,100, $132/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wabash, IN 46992 94%480$66,220$159,900$118 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Manchester, IA 52057 94%256$69,635$184,300$142 smaller
New Ulm, MN 56073 94%312$70,250$218,700$140 pricier homes ($28K more)
Tuscola, IL 61953 94%348$78,214$164,400$138 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Nebraska City, NE 68410 94%81$71,640$182,900$135 smaller
Evansville, IN 47711 93%410$66,320$167,200$140 larger
Osage, IA 50461 93%263$68,886$180,400$134 smaller
Newton, KS 67114 93%181$70,018$166,300$103 Very close on everything we compare
Williamsport, PA 17702 92%938$70,210$196,900$146 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Marys, OH 45885 92%554$78,550$164,700$151 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Battle Creek, MI 49015 92%531$68,821$184,300$140 larger
New Hampton, IA 50659 92%261$78,153$206,900$122 smaller
Carroll, IA 51401 92%157$70,702$195,700$141 Very close on everything we compare
Windom, MN 56101 92%283$77,083$183,700$117 smaller
Wichita, KS 67204 92%196$71,999$163,300$155 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Port Neches, TX 77651 92%680$81,637$253,200$150 pricier homes ($62K more)
Napoleon, OH 43545 91%572$78,548$170,900$151 Very close on everything we compare
Van Wert, OH 45891 91%545$64,272$152,100$133 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Wapakoneta, OH 45895 91%565$74,783$188,300$168 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Vernon, IN 47620 91%397$75,681$214,400$128 Very close on everything we compare
Humboldt, IA 50548 91%205$76,214$188,200$113 smaller
Cresco, IA 52136 91%284$70,778$161,100$113 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Lancaster, WI 53813 91%301$84,004$220,400$118 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Peru, IL 61354 91%318$76,392$158,500$155 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Sullivan, IL 61951 91%332$71,905$150,900$129 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller

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.