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 Aurora, NE 68818

Aurora: median income $81,045, home value $263,900, $123/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dyersville, IA 52040 95%373$84,761$242,300$126 Very close on everything we compare
Tremont, IL 61568 93%448$100,972$239,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, PA 15342 92%934$92,402$247,300$165 Very close on everything we compare
Negaunee, MI 49866 92%650$85,019$212,300$165 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Bellevue, IA 52031 92%404$86,674$244,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Cuba City, WI 53807 92%407$77,887$225,500$158 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Lancaster, WI 53813 92%400$84,004$220,400$118 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Palmyra, MO 63461 92%349$69,707$212,000$124 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Minster, OH 45865 91%716$89,000$286,300$177 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46635 91%616$81,944$208,400$135 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Chatfield, MN 55923 91%363$96,328$293,000$147 pricier homes ($29K more)
Geneseo, IL 61254 91%410$92,297$222,700$141 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Le Roy, IL 61752 91%487$87,591$178,100$135 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Kingfisher, OK 73750 91%345$69,931$229,100$126 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Apalachin, NY 13732 90%1,132$88,750$192,900$145 cheaper homes ($71K less)
New Wilmington, PA 16142 90%921$84,205$226,300$153 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 6 min longer commute
Ottawa, OH 45875 90%729$93,144$229,800$160 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Chamberlain, SD 57325 90%214$80,139$230,300$157 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Ipswich, SD 57451 90%321$86,000$195,700$122 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Higginsville, MO 64037 90%259$91,843$187,100$151 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Jermyn, PA 18433 89%1,164$75,000$213,900$147 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Bluffton, OH 45817 89%737$76,848$210,100$173 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Ferdinand, IN 47532 89%621$84,750$236,200$107 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Huntingburg, IN 47542 89%615$77,574$198,100$135 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Humboldt, IA 50548 89%235$76,214$188,200$113 cheaper homes ($76K less)

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.