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 Nickerson, KS 67561

Nickerson: median income $57,434, home value $95,000, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Correctionville, IA 51016 94%323$51,875$89,400$124 Very close on everything we compare
Jasper, MN 56144 92%405$58,375$95,000$166 more homeowners
Rossville, IL 60963 92%577$66,250$98,300$87 Very close on everything we compare
Milledgeville, IL 61051 92%511$59,565$104,200$89 Very close on everything we compare
Point Marion, PA 15474 91%981$62,500$117,700$136 larger
Barry, IL 62312 91%393$68,571$98,300$105 Very close on everything we compare
Grindstone, PA 15442 89%984$57,246$93,200$137 larger
Dunkirk, OH 45836 89%790$56,250$119,700$117 5 min longer commute
Welcome, MN 56181 89%423$55,750$114,100$178 5 min shorter commute
Wymore, NE 68466 89%156$61,574$87,300$80 older residents
Newman Grove, NE 68758 89%250$56,667$132,500$101 pricier homes ($38K more)
South Dayton, NY 14138 87%1,042$56,868$111,700$134 older residents
Mullens, WV 25882 87%909$57,500$78,400$85 newer homes
Brook, IN 47922 86%601$61,033$125,500$111 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Scranton, IA 51462 86%326$69,286$146,300— pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Galva, IL 61434 86%475$56,780$100,100$69 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Nokomis, IL 62075 86%480$65,954$93,400$73 larger
Mount Savage, MD 21545 85%1,035$60,264$130,700$111 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Laurens, IA 50554 85%366$63,802$82,800$68 older residents
Witt, IL 62094 85%477$60,644$73,000$43 newer homes
Ripley, NY 14775 84%1,007$49,961$113,600$43 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Summitville, IN 46070 84%682$57,667$117,300$78 older residents
Waldron, MI 49288 84%762$66,833$147,500$129 pricier homes ($53K more)
Russell, IA 50238 84%325$59,625$83,300$68 older residents · more homeowners
Hamburg, IA 51640 84%215$65,385$122,900$130 pricier homes ($28K more) · older 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.