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 Bennet, NE 68317

Bennet: median income $108,056, home value $294,100, $166/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crooks, SD 57020 96%207$101,500$320,400$169 pricier homes ($26K more)
Canadensis, PA 18325 93%1,107$103,500$242,900$180 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 91%570$106,250$305,900$181 larger
Earlham, IA 50072 91%135$111,250$303,900$176 larger
Brimfield, IL 61517 91%346$99,886$275,000$138 larger · older residents
Downs, IL 61736 91%401$110,444$276,000$148 Very close on everything we compare
East Hardwick, VT 05836 90%1,254$99,929$241,800$238 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 90%610$134,115$339,900$207 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Santa Claus, IN 47579 89%541$87,926$258,300$161 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Wales, WI 53183 89%448$108,827$398,700$207 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Barneveld, WI 53507 89%376$113,261$347,400$224 pricier homes ($53K more)
Jefferson, SD 57038 89%133$106,250$332,300$185 pricier homes ($38K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Carlock, IL 61725 89%388$126,083$261,200$135 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Holden, ME 04429 88%1,436$97,244$313,600$191 larger
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 88%1,223$95,000$331,900— pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older homes
Cadyville, NY 12918 88%1,188$91,951$206,700$146 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Richland, MI 49083 88%584$105,496$348,100$170 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Dike, IA 50624 88%236$96,713$260,100$156 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Underwood, IA 51576 88%66$110,476$305,400$180 Very close on everything we compare
Swisher, IA 52338 88%263$119,605$392,700$170 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Thompson, ND 58278 88%491$111,250$313,400$209 5 min shorter commute
Hudson, IL 61748 88%395$128,036$233,600$127 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Weston, MO 64098 88%120$92,661$317,600$186 larger
Hartsburg, MO 65039 88%262$125,714$412,400$176 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger
Hebron, MD 21830 87%1,117$112,991$282,300$199 larger

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.