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 Hugo, CO 80821

Hugo: median income $66,071, home value $264,500, $42/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laurel, NE 68745 91%407$63,953$190,600— cheaper homes ($74K less)
Riceville, IA 50466 87%640$56,728$209,800— cheaper homes ($55K less)
Ethan, SD 57334 87%420$62,167$206,500— cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Rockford, IA 50468 83%614$73,403$173,700— cheaper homes ($91K less)
Schleswig, IA 51461 80%473$73,768$183,100— cheaper homes ($81K less) · older residents · newer homes
Randolph, NE 68771 80%394$83,580$162,500— cheaper homes ($102K less)
Scranton, IA 51462 78%511$69,286$146,300— cheaper homes ($118K less)
Arnold, NE 69120 78%240$69,886$158,200— cheaper homes ($106K less) · newer homes
Sterling, KS 67579 76%292$65,294$158,000— cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · newer homes
Pine Level, NC 27568 75%1,405$66,071$230,800— cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Avoca, IA 51521 75%460$73,769$202,800$73 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Murdock, MN 56271 75%592$64,861$222,700— cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Millport, NY 14864 73%1,408$63,667$147,000$55 cheaper homes ($118K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Loganville, WI 53943 73%759$73,000$225,600— cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Walnut Grove, MN 56180 73%545$67,689$131,600$47 cheaper homes ($133K less) · newer homes
Mead, NE 68041 73%398$74,000$251,300— older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Leigh, NE 68643 73%376$77,125$156,900— cheaper homes ($108K less) · more homeowners
Claridge, PA 15623 72%1,268$57,335$251,500— 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Dayton, IA 50530 72%541$73,250$167,900— cheaper homes ($97K less) · older residents
Oakland, NE 68045 72%416$75,893$163,100$73 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · older residents
Genoa, NE 68640 72%344$68,036$142,400$59 cheaper homes ($122K less) · newer homes
Chinook, MT 59523 71%715$73,906$218,300— cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Dakota, IL 61018 71%764$76,471$157,800— cheaper homes ($107K less) · older residents · newer homes
Onaga, KS 66521 71%393$61,250$193,000$75 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents · newer homes
Saint Meinrad, IN 47577 70%902$52,208$250,800— more apartments and townhomes · newer homes

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.