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 Elmwood, NE 68349

Elmwood: median income $76,369, home value $218,200, $122/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Concord, MN 55985 94%287$83,636$245,200$141 pricier homes ($27K more)
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068 94%242$74,250$191,800$116 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Benton, WI 53803 93%329$79,545$163,700$115 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Fleming, CO 80728 93%344$67,863$225,000$126 Very close on everything we compare
Liberty, PA 16930 92%996$71,111$197,800— Very close on everything we compare
Parkersburg, IA 50665 92%218$75,521$217,700$134 larger
Rothsay, MN 56579 92%392$89,583$235,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Riley, KS 66531 92%110$79,063$188,000$144 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Daleville, IN 47334 91%568$71,815$183,100$138 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Aplington, IA 50604 91%214$66,776$168,200$133 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Potosi, WI 53820 91%315$77,083$201,900$141 larger
Fountain, MN 55935 91%291$85,000$246,800$153 pricier homes ($29K more)
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 91%275$85,114$232,500$146 6 min shorter commute
Fertile, MN 56540 91%463$83,646$194,800$125 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wakefield, KS 67487 91%118$67,813$183,900$126 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Claude, TX 79019 91%484$74,750$172,500$144 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Poland, NY 13431 90%1,098$76,000$245,100$150 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Sandy Lake, PA 16145 90%845$67,321$180,100$150 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Petersburg, PA 16669 90%956$78,977$215,500$113 larger · older residents
Hegins, PA 17938 90%1,035$93,722$219,000$151 larger
Barnesville, PA 18214 90%1,056$82,375$208,000$163 larger
Barrackville, WV 26559 90%855$73,229$166,900$145 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Ladoga, IN 47954 90%503$81,364$188,200$140 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Winthrop, IA 50682 90%262$89,375$183,800$142 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Central City, IA 52214 90%266$86,786$234,600$129 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.