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 Downey, ID 83234

Downey: median income $81,083, home value $229,300, $178/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Concord, MN 55985 95%972$83,636$245,200$141 Very close on everything we compare
Redfield, IA 50233 94%920$78,984$204,300$171 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Loganville, WI 53943 94%1,116$73,000$225,600— Very close on everything we compare
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215 93%1,552$80,893$222,900$199 larger
Claremont, MN 55924 93%967$78,558$243,500$194 Very close on everything we compare
Kendall, NY 14476 92%1,715$90,536$188,800$192 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Pleasantville, OH 43148 92%1,543$72,072$242,000$202 Very close on everything we compare
New Lothrop, MI 48460 92%1,420$80,000$213,900$195 larger
Reeseville, WI 53579 92%1,175$79,792$239,100$207 Very close on everything we compare
Strum, WI 54770 92%1,047$83,636$226,500$189 newer homes
Nortonville, KS 66060 92%899$77,222$155,800— cheaper homes ($74K less)
Poland, NY 13431 91%1,862$76,000$245,100$150 Very close on everything we compare
Baxter, IA 50028 91%970$72,022$206,300$203 Very close on everything we compare
Malvern, IA 51551 91%857$85,469$212,400$250 Very close on everything we compare
Argyle, WI 53504 91%1,129$83,690$220,700$188 larger · older residents
Melrose, WI 54642 91%1,063$73,452$210,600$152 larger · newer homes
Rose Creek, MN 55970 91%975$85,000$211,900$161 6 min shorter commute
Bowlus, MN 56314 91%906$95,972$262,800$175 pricier homes ($34K more)
Vega, TX 79092 91%720$83,068$176,700$136 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Barnesville, PA 18214 90%1,851$82,375$208,000$163 larger
New Holland, OH 43145 90%1,511$73,500$177,600$173 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Jamestown, IN 46147 90%1,331$80,707$216,800$203 larger
Shirley, IN 47384 90%1,388$74,167$158,300$152 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Plain, WI 53577 90%1,115$96,500$271,100$154 pricier homes ($42K more)
Ogdensburg, WI 54962 90%1,164$83,452$205,500$209 older residents · 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.