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 Beatrice, NE 68310

Beatrice: median income $60,928, home value $168,000, $118/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, IA 52353 96%273$63,047$160,500$128 smaller
Mendota, IL 61342 96%408$65,348$153,500$112 smaller
Fremont, OH 43420 95%716$61,331$152,900$137 larger
Bryan, OH 43506 95%641$60,234$162,000$132 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge, OH 43725 95%800$57,835$164,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, IN 47501 95%522$62,982$172,800$129 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Creek, MI 49017 95%616$60,885$152,900$125 larger
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 95%276$64,512$171,400$112 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, WI 54806 95%528$64,864$185,800$112 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, IL 62656 95%389$62,017$141,600$109 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Hannibal, MO 63401 95%286$60,036$152,100$116 larger
Chillicothe, MO 64601 95%172$63,061$153,900$108 Very close on everything we compare
El Dorado, KS 67042 95%169$62,857$141,300$119 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Houlton, ME 04730 94%1,501$61,980$145,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Clearfield, PA 16830 94%959$58,304$130,300$110 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Girard, OH 44420 94%842$61,707$121,100$122 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Tiffin, OH 44883 94%712$62,692$163,600$139 larger
Greenville, OH 45331 94%639$53,801$166,200$129 larger
Marietta, OH 45750 94%812$60,229$185,900$133 larger
Marion, IN 46952 94%582$52,880$146,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Wabash, IN 46992 94%574$66,220$159,900$118 Very close on everything we compare
Vincennes, IN 47591 94%504$61,803$157,400$106 larger
Atlantic, IA 50022 94%120$63,125$157,600$104 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Webster City, IA 50595 94%214$69,167$153,800$116 smaller
Hibbing, MN 55746 94%529$55,823$134,600$116 cheaper homes ($33K 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.