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 North Bend, NE 68649

North Bend: median income $87,132, home value $231,700, $96/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, SD 57212 93%201$93,750$238,100— Very close on everything we compare
Ettrick, WI 54627 91%336$77,212$223,800$93 Very close on everything we compare
New Hartford, IA 50660 90%227$95,969$190,900$98 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
New Salem, ND 58563 90%435$78,214$219,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, PA 18831 89%1,043$82,132$216,900$122 smaller · less walkable
Caledonia, MN 55921 89%308$80,161$201,600$132 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Fertile, MN 56540 89%420$83,646$194,800$125 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Lena, IL 61048 89%363$82,875$166,600$118 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Alhambra, IL 62001 89%412$98,558$218,100$118 less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73121 89%414$80,030$257,400$137 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Penn Run, PA 15765 88%927$73,646$186,000— cheaper homes ($46K less)
Danville, IA 52623 88%288$90,714$194,000$111 cheaper homes ($38K less) · less walkable
Adams, MN 55909 88%252$96,736$213,200$122 Very close on everything we compare
Ashby, MN 56309 88%322$84,750$289,900$140 pricier homes ($58K more)
Nashua, MT 59248 88%657$89,821$216,000— smaller · less walkable
Hennepin, IL 61327 88%387$89,306$211,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Lawton, IA 51030 87%77$86,167$271,000$148 pricier homes ($39K more)
Central City, IA 52214 87%277$86,786$234,600$129 larger · less walkable
Hopedale, IL 61747 87%391$80,333$188,200$126 cheaper homes ($44K less) · less walkable
Ferdinand, IN 47532 86%571$84,750$236,200$107 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fredericksburg, IA 50630 86%256$71,518$198,900$73 cheaper homes ($33K less) · less walkable
Lone Tree, IA 52755 86%277$102,434$242,700$127 younger residents
Silver Lake, MN 55381 86%271$88,661$243,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Waterville, MN 56096 86%250$87,679$278,000$160 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Clear Lake, SD 57226 86%228$83,125$206,400$102 cheaper homes ($25K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter 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.