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 Valparaiso, NE 68065

Valparaiso: median income $108,689, home value $326,700, $145/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westerlo, NY 12193 92%1,173$108,438$308,100$172 Very close on everything we compare
East Hartland, CT 06027 90%1,233$115,938$348,100$195 Very close on everything we compare
Fombell, PA 16123 90%865$102,500$251,400$211 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Princeton, IA 52768 90%336$112,563$291,100$151 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents
Hager City, WI 54014 90%326$101,667$302,900$208 Very close on everything we compare
Rosendale, WI 54974 90%456$97,222$263,600$172 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Spring Valley, OH 45370 87%680$122,000$352,000$169 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Brightwood, VA 22715 86%1,005$87,353$359,400$210 pricier homes ($33K more)
Thompson, OH 44086 86%817$92,143$289,100$187 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Berryton, KS 66409 86%161$104,604$318,300$183 larger
Feura Bush, NY 12067 85%1,179$125,521$390,700$219 pricier homes ($64K more)
Eighty Four, PA 15330 85%879$111,680$367,600$202 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Columbia, VA 23038 85%1,019$87,083$434,400$190 pricier homes ($108K more)
Valley Springs, SD 57068 85%173$112,847$260,400$172 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Rocheport, MO 65279 85%270$103,516$332,700$211 5 min shorter commute
East Berne, NY 12059 84%1,172$106,506$340,400$215 younger residents
Fabius, NY 13063 84%1,074$84,063$230,200$161 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Bagdad, KY 40003 84%654$97,681$344,900$161 younger residents · newer homes
Waldo, OH 43356 84%719$92,870$250,500— cheaper homes ($76K less) · older homes
Duncan Falls, OH 43734 84%786$113,000$226,200$179 cheaper homes ($101K less) · younger residents
Oregonia, OH 45054 84%682$99,583$296,200$226 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · newer homes
Ludlow Falls, OH 45339 84%659$97,750$269,300$171 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Waldron, IN 46182 84%598$89,567$254,300$146 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Treynor, IA 51575 84%63$112,115$304,500$128 younger residents
Sherrill, IA 52073 84%326$95,526$297,400$128 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger 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.