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 Norco, LA 70079

Norco: median income $71,433, home value $238,900, $158/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greybull, WY 82426 92%1,389$67,083$209,000$210 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Garnett, KS 66032 89%635$69,647$175,600$133 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Cambria, WI 53923 88%940$72,500$220,700$184 less walkable
Wonewoc, WI 53968 88%941$74,479$207,600$198 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Cottonwood, ID 83522 88%1,781$79,688$250,000$178 less walkable
Monroe, IA 50170 87%810$88,704$217,000$149 less walkable
Grundy Center, IA 50638 87%864$85,223$185,200$135 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Onawa, IA 51040 87%889$71,179$151,600$150 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Blair, WI 54616 87%988$72,222$180,900$146 cheaper homes ($58K less) · less walkable
Arlington, MN 55307 87%1,029$73,533$250,400$168 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Spring Valley, MN 55975 87%951$77,411$210,400$135 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Canton, SD 57013 87%980$76,458$226,000$131 larger · older residents
Webster, SD 57274 87%1,126$68,083$173,200$139 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Pierce, NE 68767 87%930$81,761$233,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Bourbon, IN 46504 86%817$74,567$184,300$168 cheaper homes ($55K less) · less walkable
Darlington, WI 53530 86%876$69,511$181,800$138 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · less walkable
Elroy, WI 53929 86%950$65,568$187,000$130 cheaper homes ($52K less) · less walkable
Hector, MN 55342 86%1,045$64,861$169,300$153 cheaper homes ($70K less) · less walkable
Fountain, MN 55935 86%953$85,000$246,800$153 smaller
Hayfield, MN 55940 86%968$83,885$245,900$154 newer homes
Le Center, MN 56057 86%1,010$91,250$248,300$161 less walkable
Melrose, MN 56352 86%1,107$73,721$229,100$131 larger · less walkable
Albion, NE 68620 86%912$83,450$231,700$169 6 min shorter commute
Union, OR 97883 86%1,818$65,172$239,100$229 newer homes
Burton, OH 44021 85%945$82,008$242,900$170 larger · less walkable

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.