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 Scribner, NE 68057

Scribner: median income $74,213, home value $168,200, $113/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 94%102$80,119$149,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IA 50468 94%212$73,403$173,700— Very close on everything we compare
Northwood, IA 50459 92%213$71,618$149,600$108 larger
Newell, IA 50568 92%107$75,250$137,700$95 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Glidden, IA 51443 92%103$78,906$191,000$139 newer homes
Greens Fork, IN 47345 91%618$73,750$155,600$136 Very close on everything we compare
Anita, IA 50020 91%98$75,417$154,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Sutherland, IA 51058 91%109$63,036$133,000— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Manning, IA 51455 91%84$76,786$132,200$89 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Readlyn, IA 50668 90%238$85,956$174,000$118 6 min longer commute
Elkader, IA 52043 90%280$76,705$165,000$131 newer homes
La Moille, IL 61330 90%380$69,005$147,600$115 older residents
Flanagan, IL 61740 90%408$79,904$143,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Valley View, PA 17983 89%1,046$72,411$158,700$101 newer homes
Scranton, IA 51462 89%110$69,286$146,300— younger residents
Neola, IA 51559 89%52$74,761$201,800$123 pricier homes ($34K more)
Hamburg, IA 51640 89%90$65,385$122,900$130 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Owaneco, IL 62555 89%419$69,676$131,300— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Canton, KS 67428 89%230$75,815$147,600$115 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Salisbury, PA 15558 88%928$64,038$142,000$113 cheaper homes ($26K less)
New Washington, OH 44854 88%717$70,357$146,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Wolcott, IN 47995 88%503$80,179$161,800$133 younger residents
Guthrie Center, IA 50115 88%111$73,848$147,900$156 larger
Monona, IA 52159 88%284$74,259$165,400$110 larger · 5 min longer commute
Winnebago, MN 56098 88%193$69,000$147,900$103 newer 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.