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 Seward, NE 68434

Seward: median income $81,466, home value $271,900, $138/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oberlin, OH 44074 96%774$80,801$234,200$151 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Kalona, IA 52247 94%283$91,450$298,900$151 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Spartanburg, SC 29302 93%928$80,819$285,400$156 larger
Waverly, IA 50677 93%274$85,633$232,800$141 cheaper homes ($39K less)
New Wilmington, PA 16142 91%873$84,205$226,300$153 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35210 91%766$73,061$255,800$191 larger
New Concord, OH 43762 91%809$80,709$241,500$168 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Leola, PA 17540 89%1,097$91,895$339,200$185 pricier homes ($67K more)
Pendleton, SC 29670 89%894$72,445$269,500$150 newer homes
South Bend, IN 46637 89%566$71,462$207,100$154 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Portage, MI 49002 89%602$73,647$246,400$174 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Carterville, IL 62918 89%479$70,920$200,200$135 cheaper homes ($72K less) · newer homes
Jefferson City, MO 65101 89%309$74,807$243,600$142 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Valley Center, KS 67147 89%211$88,006$242,300$136 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Destrehan, LA 70047 89%845$87,333$305,300$151 pricier homes ($33K more)
Greenville, TX 75402 89%542$77,877$273,300$143 larger · newer homes
Delhi, NY 13753 88%1,147$70,000$216,200$160 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Danville, PA 17821 88%1,066$76,971$249,500$164 larger · older residents
Mobile, AL 36693 88%868$68,933$210,200$128 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · older residents
Clinton, MS 39056 88%700$75,110$225,800$139 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Long Beach, MS 39560 88%853$69,769$219,000$149 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Rootstown, OH 44272 88%828$83,173$261,300$170 smaller
Saint Peter, MN 56082 88%285$71,456$275,200$169 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 88%351$80,156$292,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
La Fayette, NY 13084 87%1,085$91,389$227,200$157 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller

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.