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 Caney, KS 67333

Caney: median income $63,103, home value $161,200, $97/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shullsburg, WI 53586 95%488$70,806$166,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Pearl City, IL 61062 95%485$66,667$196,900$93 pricier homes ($36K more)
Republic, OH 44867 94%746$72,716$167,000$96 Very close on everything we compare
Elma, IA 50628 94%470$68,750$153,500— smaller
Springfield, SD 57062 94%418$62,321$134,900$110 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Williamsburg, PA 16693 93%978$62,898$154,400$99 larger
Dyer, TN 38330 93%388$60,688$136,300$105 larger
North English, IA 52316 93%372$60,768$150,600$94 smaller · older residents
Eddyville, IA 52553 93%335$64,583$150,000— Very close on everything we compare
Elroy, WI 53929 93%551$65,568$187,000$130 pricier homes ($26K more)
Port Edwards, WI 54469 93%597$74,038$153,400$108 Very close on everything we compare
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 93%620$74,583$154,100$104 Very close on everything we compare
Moweaqua, IL 62550 93%414$73,634$149,600$105 Very close on everything we compare
Edgerton, OH 43517 92%671$58,578$136,500$134 Very close on everything we compare
Argos, IN 46501 92%593$64,172$156,900$124 larger
Primghar, IA 51245 92%418$69,531$149,700$97 smaller
Marengo, IA 52301 92%388$70,150$160,300$109 larger
Winnebago, MN 56098 92%476$69,000$147,900$103 older residents
Atwood, IL 61913 92%447$65,500$128,700$73 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Arnold, NE 69120 92%381$69,886$158,200— smaller
Sherman, NY 14781 91%937$61,625$145,300$103 older residents
Knightstown, IN 46148 91%594$63,914$186,800$128 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Hagerstown, IN 47346 91%615$70,000$144,300$114 larger
Leon, IA 50144 91%282$63,333$130,800$108 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more renters
Rockwell City, IA 50579 91%377$61,108$126,000$118 cheaper homes ($35K 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.