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 Auburn, KS 66402

Auburn: median income $88,427, home value $260,900, $154/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New London, MN 56273 96%443$90,122$320,100$170 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
La Fayette, NY 13084 95%1,063$91,389$227,200$157 cheaper homes ($34K less)
New Berlin, IL 62670 95%324$78,750$211,900$134 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Winfield, PA 17889 94%1,012$89,063$288,900$188 pricier homes ($28K more)
Wallingford, VT 05773 93%1,224$80,726$261,700$155 Very close on everything we compare
Wade, NC 28395 93%976$84,375$263,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Ellettsville, IN 47429 93%494$92,378$246,800$179 larger
Battle Ground, IN 47920 93%491$90,441$276,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Bangor, WI 54614 93%424$85,588$250,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Elk Point, SD 57025 93%268$94,839$237,900$179 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, IL 62613 93%336$86,675$200,900$141 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Pinebluff, NC 28373 92%939$81,538$224,400$199 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Lexington, KY 40516 92%623$84,510$264,100$181 6 min longer commute
Eleva, WI 54738 92%452$95,179$290,400$191 pricier homes ($30K more)
Fall Creek, WI 54742 92%467$102,083$282,100$189 Very close on everything we compare
Chatfield, MN 55923 92%389$96,328$293,000$147 pricier homes ($32K more)
Rushford, MN 55971 92%399$88,750$231,700$142 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Easton, MO 64443 92%85$86,042$300,000— pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73150 92%256$92,318$313,500$164 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Hico, TX 76457 92%496$72,238$264,100$164 Very close on everything we compare
Ona, WV 25545 91%734$92,813$214,600$148 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Haubstadt, IN 47639 91%448$97,930$276,100$186 larger
Dike, IA 50624 91%298$96,713$260,100$156 smaller
Carlton, MN 55718 91%560$96,546$319,100$198 pricier homes ($58K more)
Lewiston, MN 55952 91%405$91,389$228,200$139 cheaper homes ($33K 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.