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 Bloomfield, NE 68718

Bloomfield: median income $60,250, home value $139,200, $65/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clark, SD 57225 94%158$66,875$155,100$77 Very close on everything we compare
Beach, ND 58621 93%431$67,000$124,800$69 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, IA 50833 92%201$61,042$112,900$69 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Oregon, MO 64473 92%223$63,313$135,900$68 Very close on everything we compare
Sac City, IA 50583 91%137$62,981$144,700$74 Very close on everything we compare
George, IA 51237 91%99$61,667$159,500$89 Very close on everything we compare
Ivanhoe, MN 56142 91%147$57,500$120,500$63 smaller · younger residents
Atkinson, IL 61235 91%400$61,932$132,800$67 Very close on everything we compare
Eads, CO 81036 91%386$59,868$173,300— pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pocahontas, IA 50574 90%152$60,469$110,300$83 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Wenona, IL 61377 90%456$57,321$139,500$86 younger residents
Fairfax, MO 64446 90%196$56,949$101,800— cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Washington, KS 66968 90%194$59,438$124,900$49 5 min shorter commute
Buffalo Center, IA 50424 89%195$59,091$114,500$48 Very close on everything we compare
Ackley, IA 50601 89%234$66,250$127,200$86 Very close on everything we compare
Wells, MN 56097 89%213$62,264$133,800$91 larger
Woodhull, IL 61490 89%391$65,625$158,000$68 smaller
Winchester, IL 62694 89%427$58,460$102,200$59 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Eureka, KS 67045 89%337$62,629$110,100$80 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Bessemer, MI 49911 88%460$57,000$106,300$87 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Corning, IA 50841 88%187$66,875$116,700$95 Very close on everything we compare
Ruthven, IA 51358 88%145$64,583$150,500$74 Very close on everything we compare
West Union, IA 52175 88%296$59,800$160,600$88 larger · younger residents
Canby, MN 56220 88%162$61,414$174,500$80 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · younger residents
Selby, SD 57472 88%232$61,708$120,200$68 younger 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.