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 Cairo, NE 68824

Cairo: median income $77,989, home value $219,900, $115/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Velva, ND 58790 94%501$83,233$224,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Pearl City, IL 61062 94%461$66,667$196,900$93 Very close on everything we compare
Woodbine, IA 51579 93%160$72,500$204,400$121 Very close on everything we compare
Murdock, MN 56271 92%333$64,861$222,700— Very close on everything we compare
Neola, IA 51559 91%156$74,761$201,800$123 older homes
Newhall, IA 52315 91%350$77,656$196,100$127 more homeowners
Elkton, SD 57026 91%248$80,568$213,200$130 6 min shorter commute
Camp Point, IL 62320 91%402$77,143$167,400$138 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Lyndon, KS 66451 91%226$76,908$158,500$123 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Renville, MN 56284 90%313$72,500$162,500$116 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Avon, SD 57315 90%144$73,750$169,600$157 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Monroe City, IN 47557 89%619$84,375$151,600$126 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Melbourne, IA 50162 89%293$71,417$176,600$135 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Sully, IA 50251 89%302$91,061$186,200$153 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Larchwood, IA 51241 89%202$87,446$280,600$145 pricier homes ($61K more)
Primghar, IA 51245 89%209$69,531$149,700$97 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Withee, WI 54498 89%489$75,833$153,500$104 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Blair, WI 54616 89%439$72,222$180,900$146 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Minneota, MN 56264 89%280$81,071$189,600$81 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Ethan, SD 57334 89%179$62,167$206,500— Very close on everything we compare
Forrest, IL 61741 89%533$87,850$167,700$99 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Miles, TX 76861 89%654$85,714$218,200$171 Very close on everything we compare
Abernathy, TX 79311 89%525$81,985$176,800$131 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Otis, CO 80743 89%233$67,734$226,300$154 Very close on everything we compare
Stratton, CO 80836 89%241$65,208$217,800$131 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.