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 Denton, NE 68339

Denton: median income $101,146, home value $444,700, $272/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hickman, TN 38567 92%672$100,368$340,500— cheaper homes ($104K less)
Oldenburg, IN 47036 92%620$98,300$413,700— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Miltona, MN 56354 90%375$88,693$403,700$235 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Renner, SD 57055 90%200$120,341$474,500$282 pricier homes ($30K more)
New Meadows, ID 83654 90%1,025$91,750$534,600$403 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Penn Laird, VA 22846 88%974$115,491$450,000$209 Very close on everything we compare
Piedmont, SD 57769 88%411$94,375$367,400$243 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Cushing, ME 04563 87%1,419$83,500$409,800$376 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Audubon, MN 56511 87%426$89,875$401,900$261 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older homes
Park City, MT 59063 87%695$99,432$449,200$280 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Cambridge, VT 05444 86%1,242$106,088$366,400$248 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Harbeson, DE 19951 86%1,155$95,546$472,400$261 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Soulsbyville, CA 95372 86%1,261$97,398$408,300$255 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older homes
Columbia City, OR 97018 86%1,346$96,750$460,000$294 larger · 5 min longer commute
Cove, OR 97824 86%1,102$80,263$413,700$267 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Madison, NH 03849 85%1,326$96,439$390,100$289 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older homes
Galena, MD 21635 85%1,111$101,618$402,000$258 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older homes
Waverly, AL 36879 85%834$93,029$325,900$202 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Elkhart, IA 50073 85%187$100,972$274,700$264 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Custer, WI 54423 85%461$113,690$329,100$239 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger
Elysian, MN 56028 85%289$93,375$338,000$253 cheaper homes ($107K less) · older homes
Smartsville, CA 95977 85%1,295$104,545$441,700$312 larger · younger residents
Runnells, IA 50237 84%187$101,806$346,900$300 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · younger residents
Arcadia, OK 73007 84%352$120,556$494,200$230 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Modena, NY 12548 83%1,181$132,083$428,800— higher income ($31K more) · older 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.