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 North Newton, KS 67117

North Newton: median income $87,377, home value $218,000, $92/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carbondale, IL 62902 89%450$84,223$207,800$112 larger
Conrad, IA 50621 76%372$88,077$214,700$106 older homes
Hazen, ND 58545 75%675$81,641$202,700$114 larger · more homeowners
Utopia, TX 78884 75%599$84,271$286,900— pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 74%1,609$70,852$161,000$76 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · older homes
Bethlehem, NH 03574 73%1,395$81,250$288,300$191 pricier homes ($70K more) · older homes
Munroe Falls, OH 44262 73%872$81,214$250,800$158 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Rockford, IL 61114 73%529$85,568$204,300$133 larger
Limon, CO 80828 73%352$67,708$244,300$151 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Painted Post, NY 14870 72%1,103$84,476$177,500$128 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · younger residents
Wilton, IA 52778 72%414$82,623$202,200$158 larger · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Washburn, WI 54891 72%679$70,536$208,800$194 larger
Baudette, MN 56623 72%746$87,750$232,800$160 more homeowners
Clear Lake, SD 57226 72%463$83,125$206,400$102 younger residents · older homes
Kalida, OH 45853 71%728$87,500$196,100— younger residents · more single-family homes
Frankenmuth, MI 48734 71%799$91,032$305,100$174 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 71%694$86,075$198,500$145 older homes
Salem, SD 57058 71%391$84,286$228,600$132 younger residents · older homes
Allegany, NY 14706 70%1,032$73,236$176,000$111 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Big Flats, NY 14814 70%1,111$98,783$211,700$114 younger residents · older homes
Williamstown, WV 26187 70%860$83,226$198,300$145 larger · more homeowners
South Bend, IN 46635 70%641$81,944$208,400$135 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Ferdinand, IN 47532 70%570$84,750$236,200$107 larger · more homeowners
Amana, IA 52203 70%389$101,950$297,100$139 pricier homes ($79K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Flandreau, SD 57028 70%416$72,798$193,800$122 larger · younger residents · older homes

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.