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 Gretna, NE 68028

Gretna: median income $143,604, home value $407,400, $177/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64157 95%159$149,526$386,400$198 Very close on everything we compare
Rogers, MN 55374 94%310$144,714$462,000$193 pricier homes ($55K more)
Madison, AL 35756 93%682$129,852$377,400$172 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Hebron, KY 41048 93%626$137,398$329,100$184 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46814 93%569$147,280$399,300$167 Very close on everything we compare
Plain City, OH 43064 92%684$139,591$461,900$230 pricier homes ($55K more)
Fortville, IN 46040 92%552$147,500$435,700$168 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min longer commute
Lees Summit, MO 64082 91%186$131,453$411,700$193 6 min longer commute
Springboro, OH 45066 90%641$131,250$393,500$181 larger
Bondurant, IA 50035 90%150$134,906$323,000$234 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Eureka, MO 63025 90%349$125,676$391,500$181 7 min longer commute
Avondale, PA 19311 89%1,078$155,771$540,800$197 pricier homes ($133K more)
Pike Road, AL 36064 89%827$119,853$380,800$172 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min longer commute
Union, KY 41091 89%627$136,307$399,500$193 7 min longer commute
Byron, MN 55920 89%272$131,336$372,600$193 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 89%331$137,648$409,100$183 larger
Shawnee, KS 66218 89%166$168,878$436,600$207 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Edmond, OK 73012 89%387$126,659$328,000$171 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
West Henrietta, NY 14586 88%959$124,457$277,500$211 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Avon, OH 44011 88%738$135,915$395,900$219 older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46845 88%578$112,676$339,200$168 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Shawnee, KS 66226 88%166$173,667$416,200$188 higher income ($30K more)
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 87%697$123,497$396,300$176 older residents
Granville, OH 43023 87%723$142,852$473,100$220 pricier homes ($66K more) · older homes
Greenville, WI 54942 87%448$119,508$355,900$217 cheaper homes ($52K 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.