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 Wilber, NE 68465

Wilber: median income $91,964, home value $204,600, $121/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Calmar, IA 52132 93%321$100,559$231,600$124 pricier homes ($27K more)
Mapleton, MN 56065 93%284$92,933$223,100$146 Very close on everything we compare
Glidden, IA 51443 92%160$78,906$191,000$139 smaller
Woodbine, IA 51579 92%109$72,500$204,400$121 Very close on everything we compare
Luckey, OH 43443 91%707$97,917$207,100$115 smaller
Sully, IA 50251 91%228$91,061$186,200$153 smaller
Neola, IA 51559 91%95$74,761$201,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Abernathy, TX 79311 91%531$81,985$176,800$131 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer homes
Oriskany, NY 13424 90%1,126$84,844$208,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Reinbeck, IA 50669 90%260$81,650$183,000$87 older residents
Freeman, SD 57029 90%200$73,750$179,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Colfax, IA 50054 89%210$89,940$211,500$143 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Coon Rapids, IA 50058 89%154$80,119$149,700$111 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 89%290$93,482$204,100$112 older residents
Hawarden, IA 51023 89%176$80,357$173,300$99 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Roanoke, IL 61561 89%408$86,071$150,800$107 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Forrest, IL 61741 89%449$87,850$167,700$99 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Camp Point, IL 62320 89%313$77,143$167,400$138 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Halstead, KS 67056 89%173$78,958$169,200$111 cheaper homes ($35K less) · newer homes
Union Springs, NY 13160 88%1,058$86,029$185,600$168 older residents
North Collins, NY 14111 88%944$90,700$201,700$164 older residents
Leipsic, OH 45856 88%680$86,494$165,100$117 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Grundy Center, IA 50638 88%253$85,223$185,200$135 6 min longer commute
Marcus, IA 51035 88%172$79,338$209,700$109 smaller · older residents
Elkader, IA 52043 88%330$76,705$165,000$131 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents

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.