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 Hartington, NE 68739

Hartington: median income $90,500, home value $218,400, $152/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Galva, KS 67443 95%293$88,938$220,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Verona, NY 13478 91%1,097$83,986$185,800$196 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 91%227$93,482$204,100$112 5 min longer commute
De Smet, SD 57231 91%123$78,646$212,200$125 smaller
Arlington, OH 45814 90%711$91,115$207,000$160 7 min longer commute
Fort Recovery, OH 45846 90%665$91,736$249,400$150 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
New Bremen, OH 45869 90%683$88,277$249,700$183 pricier homes ($31K more)
Jim Falls, WI 54748 90%345$78,750$235,100$161 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Fort Jennings, OH 45844 89%681$88,792$231,300$123 6 min longer commute
Dyersville, IA 52040 89%314$84,761$242,300$126 larger
Cleveland, WI 53015 89%487$88,810$222,200$164 6 min longer commute
Oakfield, WI 53065 89%446$99,583$261,800$174 pricier homes ($43K more) · 7 min longer commute
Combined Locks, WI 54113 89%464$93,490$246,000$199 pricier homes ($28K more)
Marathon, WI 54448 89%404$94,432$246,900$158 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Orangeville, UT 84537 89%755$90,086$246,200$136 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
New Berlin, PA 17855 88%1,051$88,929$216,700$151 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Adair, IA 50002 88%156$79,071$237,700$139 smaller · older homes
Bellevue, IA 52031 88%350$86,674$244,600$152 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Cuba City, WI 53807 88%346$77,887$225,500$158 larger · 6 min longer commute
New Columbia, PA 17856 87%1,052$91,661$197,600$178 Very close on everything we compare
Sterling, OH 44276 87%804$86,583$231,300$152 9 min longer commute
Mc Comb, OH 45858 87%701$74,709$196,700$144 7 min longer commute
Garner, IA 50438 87%190$70,350$197,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Cottonwood, MN 56229 87%158$104,375$205,600$103 smaller
Ipswich, SD 57451 87%213$86,000$195,700$122 6 min longer 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.