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 Aurora, UT 84620

Aurora: median income $88,810, home value $299,700, $130/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Juniata, NE 68955 93%721$90,850$266,400$151 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Courtland, MN 56021 92%979$96,563$276,800$140 Very close on everything we compare
Warne, NC 28909 90%1,565$80,875$285,400$153 6 min longer commute
Fort Loramie, OH 45845 90%1,464$95,078$306,300— larger
Galva, KS 67443 90%777$88,938$220,600$137 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Pleasanton, NE 68866 90%692$94,792$262,300— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Van Buren, OH 45889 89%1,498$93,750$315,200$161 older homes
Glenarm, IL 62536 89%1,189$95,809$260,000$112 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 5 min longer commute
Laotto, IN 46763 88%1,417$97,054$270,800$155 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Surrey, ND 58785 88%839$105,375$317,200$168 Very close on everything we compare
Worthing, SD 57077 86%845$88,125$234,500$175 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 6 min longer commute
Brownstown, PA 17508 85%1,893$104,597$347,800$131 pricier homes ($48K more)
Walker, IA 52352 85%1,080$92,321$231,300$131 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 7 min longer commute
Sabin, MN 56580 85%945$107,813$282,200$165 7 min longer commute
Teutopolis, IL 62467 85%1,256$96,406$232,800$128 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Botkins, OH 45306 84%1,473$86,354$255,600$157 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more renters
Russia, OH 45363 84%1,463$95,268$316,900— larger · 8 min longer commute
Fort Recovery, OH 45846 84%1,443$91,736$249,400$150 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · older homes
Alton, IA 51003 84%875$101,250$232,700$119 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Arlington, NE 68002 84%842$93,220$299,700$130 larger · older residents · older homes
Wentworth, NH 03282 83%2,082$98,333$304,500$208 more renters
Maria Stein, OH 45860 83%1,457$111,269$296,000— larger · older homes
Hull, IA 51239 83%873$77,540$236,500$161 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Cleveland, WI 53015 83%1,294$88,810$222,200$164 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · older homes
Nicollet, MN 56074 83%986$92,813$293,700$160 more renters

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.