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 Hampton, NE 68843

Hampton: median income $92,778, home value $250,000, $140/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Berlin, PA 17855 94%1,089$88,929$216,700$151 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Alburnett, IA 52202 94%334$105,362$246,300$120 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 92%306$93,482$204,100$112 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Courtland, MN 56021 92%293$96,563$276,800$140 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Durhamville, NY 13054 91%1,147$94,100$227,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, NJ 08311 90%1,200$86,324$247,600$137 larger
Adair, IA 50002 90%173$79,071$237,700$139 Very close on everything we compare
West Bend, IA 50597 90%225$92,000$179,700— cheaper homes ($70K less)
Marcus, IA 51035 90%169$79,338$209,700$109 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 90%342$84,609$217,500$101 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 90%333$85,114$232,500$146 larger · 6 min longer commute
Alexandria, SD 57311 90%190$103,839$186,800$188 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Deansboro, NY 13328 89%1,159$105,000$204,000$166 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Botkins, OH 45306 89%718$86,354$255,600$157 larger · younger residents
Arlington, OH 45814 89%742$91,115$207,000$160 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Sidney, IL 61877 89%519$96,750$209,700$146 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 8 min longer commute
Clayville, NY 13322 88%1,168$91,369$204,800$141 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min longer commute
Luckey, OH 43443 88%750$97,917$207,100$115 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Sterling, OH 44276 88%837$86,583$231,300$152 larger · 5 min longer commute
Sully, IA 50251 88%266$91,061$186,200$153 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents
Glidden, IA 51443 88%182$78,906$191,000$139 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Cleveland, WI 53015 88%556$88,810$222,200$164 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Jim Falls, WI 54748 88%441$78,750$235,100$161 Very close on everything we compare
New Knoxville, OH 45871 87%711$87,500$211,700$204 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Winthrop, IA 50682 87%335$89,375$183,800$142 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 7 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.