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.

Reset

Towns most like Pender, NE 68047

Pender: median income $87,375, home value $217,000, $111/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Luckey, OH 43443 95%684$97,917$207,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
Mapleton, MN 56065 95%188$92,933$223,100$146 Very close on everything we compare
Grundy Center, IA 50638 92%202$85,223$185,200$135 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Ireton, IA 51027 92%62$100,893$227,200$82 smaller
Neola, IA 51559 92%70$74,761$201,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Maroa, IL 61756 92%429$86,375$181,300$105 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Lyndon, KS 66451 92%247$76,908$158,500$123 cheaper homes ($59K less)
North Rose, NY 14516 91%1,007$76,000$172,400$114 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Woodville, OH 43469 91%689$86,410$205,500$161 Very close on everything we compare
Shell Rock, IA 50670 91%215$84,679$171,500$134 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 91%254$84,609$217,500$101 smaller
Adrian, MN 56110 91%111$77,875$176,400$103 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Tyler, MN 56178 91%152$87,031$165,400$125 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Fertile, MN 56540 91%375$83,646$194,800$125 older residents
Ashkum, IL 60911 91%462$89,792$158,700$91 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Cissna Park, IL 60924 91%470$78,250$154,900$94 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Roanoke, IL 61561 91%399$86,071$150,800$107 cheaper homes ($66K less)
El Paso, IL 61738 91%410$84,926$175,700$98 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Minier, IL 61759 91%401$91,591$161,700$114 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Halstead, KS 67056 91%287$78,958$169,200$111 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Abernathy, TX 79311 91%636$81,985$176,800$131 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Memphis, NY 13112 90%1,033$96,615$195,400$160 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral Point, PA 15942 90%935$84,875$185,000$88 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Leipsic, OH 45856 90%660$86,494$165,100$117 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Fountain City, IN 47341 90%633$81,750$157,900$100 cheaper homes ($59K 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.