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 Elgin, NE 68636

Elgin: median income $78,056, home value $113,800, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clarkfield, MN 56223 96%224$71,667$110,000$74 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, IL 62560 94%481$80,781$110,000$123 Very close on everything we compare
Burrton, KS 67020 94%274$80,680$130,200$77 Very close on everything we compare
Garber, OK 73738 94%383$79,643$115,000— Very close on everything we compare
Kanawha, IA 50447 93%229$76,019$86,800$116 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Armour, SD 57313 93%94$89,107$117,300— Very close on everything we compare
Kirkwood, IL 61447 93%387$82,583$95,900$117 Very close on everything we compare
Minneola, KS 67865 93%329$65,125$126,700$74 Very close on everything we compare
Hanover, KS 66945 92%157$69,688$118,000— Very close on everything we compare
Newell, IA 50568 91%164$75,250$137,700$95 older residents
Cerro Gordo, IL 61818 91%509$84,375$116,100$86 older residents
Lyndon, KS 66451 91%263$76,908$158,500$123 pricier homes ($45K more)
Clarkson, NE 68629 91%53$78,438$132,800— Very close on everything we compare
Genoa, NE 68640 91%40$68,036$142,400$59 pricier homes ($29K more)
Cygnet, OH 43413 90%746$80,069$139,700$137 pricier homes ($26K more)
Monroe City, IN 47557 90%610$84,375$151,600$126 pricier homes ($38K more)
Lamberton, MN 56152 90%211$75,536$129,900$90 Very close on everything we compare
Morgan, MN 56266 90%231$74,000$143,400$116 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Menno, SD 57045 90%91$76,042$117,900$108 more apartments and townhomes
Annawan, IL 61234 90%423$79,688$146,500$92 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Arnold, NE 69120 90%113$69,886$158,200— pricier homes ($44K more)
Nichols, NY 13812 89%1,112$82,679$143,800$49 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Payne, OH 45880 89%692$69,500$124,700$140 larger · 5 min longer commute
Primghar, IA 51245 89%145$69,531$149,700$97 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min longer commute
Ossian, IA 52161 89%331$87,870$171,400$182 pricier homes ($58K more)

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.