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 Wayne, NE 68787

Wayne: median income $60,275, home value $230,700, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maryville, MO 64468 88%171$57,251$211,100$122 larger · older residents
Platteville, WI 53818 85%335$55,567$236,700$157 larger · 7 min longer commute
Morris, MN 56267 84%239$74,442$236,800$133 older residents
Mayville, ND 58257 83%364$60,395$196,200$242 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Kirksville, MO 63501 83%270$60,729$168,200$114 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Clarion, PA 16214 81%911$57,521$171,600$107 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Martin, TN 38237 78%596$51,670$200,900$138 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Weatherford, OK 73096 78%471$59,138$248,600$134 larger · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Wichita Falls, TX 76308 77%584$74,772$213,500$131 larger · older residents
Whitewater, WI 53190 76%423$66,069$265,100$222 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Alamosa, CO 81101 76%573$54,844$240,400$183 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Ada, OH 45810 75%690$63,451$167,900$138 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 11 min longer commute
Stevens Point, WI 54481 75%407$59,545$201,000$168 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Vermillion, SD 57069 75%39$53,327$231,200$142 larger · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Hays, KS 67601 75%262$61,417$227,300$133 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Russellville, AR 72801 75%523$47,830$163,700$129 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Abilene, TX 79601 74%691$53,631$190,200$178 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 74%1,172$60,901$247,700$194 larger · 8 min longer commute
Hamilton, NY 13346 73%1,091$60,600$214,600$181 more homeowners
Volga, SD 57071 73%145$77,138$246,000— smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Pittsburg, KS 66762 73%356$50,511$145,300$110 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Lubbock, TX 79413 73%656$69,400$208,600$117 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Canton, NY 13617 72%1,106$71,663$161,300$131 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older residents
Northport, AL 35476 72%807$61,154$221,400$176 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Big Rapids, MI 49307 72%592$60,358$187,800$157 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older 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.