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 Albion, NE 68620

Albion: median income $83,450, home value $231,700, $169/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Bremen, OH 45869 95%714$88,277$249,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Adair, IA 50002 94%174$79,071$237,700$139 smaller
Oriskany, NY 13424 92%1,156$84,844$208,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Smithville, OH 44677 92%839$75,435$230,600$247 Very close on everything we compare
Versailles, OH 45380 92%711$84,135$235,300$139 larger · 5 min longer commute
New Hampton, IA 50659 92%305$78,153$206,900$122 larger
Glidden, IA 51443 92%171$78,906$191,000$139 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Archbold, OH 43502 91%707$74,925$203,300$177 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
New Knoxville, OH 45871 91%717$87,500$211,700$204 Very close on everything we compare
Walcott, IA 52773 91%375$85,523$214,400$178 more apartments and townhomes
Union Springs, NY 13160 90%1,090$86,029$185,600$168 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Elkader, IA 52043 90%346$76,705$165,000$131 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Cuba City, WI 53807 90%390$77,887$225,500$158 newer homes
Le Center, MN 56057 90%284$91,250$248,300$161 6 min longer commute
Canton, SD 57013 90%132$76,458$226,000$131 larger · 5 min longer commute
Glasgow, MT 59230 90%615$85,000$241,000— larger
Grace, ID 83241 90%706$71,298$215,200$182 Very close on everything we compare
Enon, OH 45323 89%746$80,781$187,900$168 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Osage, IA 50461 89%286$68,886$180,400$134 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Lancaster, WI 53813 89%381$84,004$220,400$118 larger
De Smet, SD 57231 89%186$78,646$212,200$125 smaller
Ellsworth, KS 67439 89%206$73,409$158,300— cheaper homes ($73K less)
New Berlin, PA 17855 88%1,090$88,929$216,700$151 smaller
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 88%284$93,482$204,100$112 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Marcus, IA 51035 88%136$79,338$209,700$109 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.