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 Elm Creek, NE 68836

Elm Creek: median income $86,806, home value $224,800, $115/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Velva, ND 58790 97%513$83,233$224,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Chapman, KS 67431 94%174$82,500$199,500$117 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents
Larchwood, IA 51241 93%241$87,446$280,600$145 pricier homes ($56K more)
Rossville, IN 46065 92%670$80,104$216,300$133 larger
Epworth, IA 52045 92%452$91,667$263,500$141 pricier homes ($39K more)
Lewiston, MN 55952 92%444$91,389$228,200$139 older residents
Cimarron, KS 67835 92%208$79,877$215,900$117 Very close on everything we compare
Olivet, MI 49076 91%756$74,440$200,600$133 larger
Miles, TX 76861 91%632$85,714$218,200$171 Very close on everything we compare
Spruce Pine, AL 35585 90%767$92,679$211,200$94 Very close on everything we compare
Botkins, OH 45306 90%796$86,354$255,600$157 pricier homes ($31K more)
Alton, IA 51003 90%232$101,250$232,700$119 Very close on everything we compare
Farley, IA 52046 90%448$96,151$273,600$137 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Elkton, SD 57026 90%283$80,568$213,200$130 6 min shorter commute
Jasper, MO 64755 90%359$77,643$158,200$127 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Olpe, KS 66865 90%241$93,333$181,600$125 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Woodburn, KY 42170 89%739$96,111$291,700$114 pricier homes ($67K more)
Colfax, IA 50054 89%324$89,940$211,500$143 larger
Donnellson, IA 52625 89%408$80,078$205,300$125 older residents
Belmont, WI 53510 89%486$82,083$229,800$169 older residents
Bangor, WI 54614 89%480$85,588$250,300$171 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Hayfield, MN 55940 89%400$83,885$245,900$154 older residents
Nicollet, MN 56074 89%360$92,813$293,700$160 pricier homes ($69K more)
Dieterich, IL 62424 89%593$84,635$225,800$142 newer homes
Divernon, IL 62530 89%519$82,188$160,100$104 cheaper homes ($65K 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.