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 Mc Cool Junction, NE 68401

Mc Cool Junction: median income $111,500, home value $196,600, $168/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sully, IA 50251 87%254$91,061$186,200$153 older residents
Coahoma, TX 79511 87%619$117,578$264,400— pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Elba, NY 14058 85%1,009$102,750$151,500$179 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Ossian, IA 52161 82%342$87,870$171,400$182 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents · less walkable
Mapleton, MN 56065 82%288$92,933$223,100$146 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Aurora, NY 13026 81%1,084$96,324$206,100$195 less walkable
West Bend, IA 50597 81%222$92,000$179,700— older residents
Philo, IL 61864 81%499$110,139$230,000$123 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents
Maria Stein, OH 45860 80%687$111,269$296,000— pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · newer homes
Helena, OH 43435 79%744$89,000$176,400$167 older residents · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Arcadia, OH 44804 79%735$95,469$193,500$197 larger · older homes
Canistota, SD 57012 79%197$94,375$180,200$199 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Memphis, NY 13112 78%1,098$96,615$195,400$160 larger · older residents
Bringhurst, IN 46913 78%580$91,136$171,800$183 9 min longer commute
Hope, IN 47246 78%633$94,375$197,800$188 larger
Northwood, ND 58267 78%485$88,015$217,800$161 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Milford, UT 84751 78%836$81,908$247,100$182 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Deansboro, NY 13328 77%1,147$105,000$204,000$166 older residents · newer homes
Luckey, OH 43443 77%736$97,917$207,100$115 older residents
Forrest, IL 61741 77%480$87,850$167,700$99 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Botkins, OH 45306 76%703$86,354$255,600$157 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Alton, IA 51003 76%174$101,250$232,700$119 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Alexandria, SD 57311 76%202$103,839$186,800$188 older residents
Boyden, IA 51234 75%189$84,318$211,800— lower income ($27K less) · less walkable
Utica, MN 55979 75%364$85,417$279,700$173 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($83K more) · 9 min longer commute

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.