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 Centerfield, UT 84622

Centerfield: median income $77,778, home value $315,200, $170/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Doon, IA 51235 84%860$71,016$240,700$189 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more renters
Hull, IA 51239 84%861$77,540$236,500$161 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · older homes
Warne, NC 28909 82%1,559$80,875$285,400$153 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Worthing, SD 57077 80%833$88,125$234,500$175 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 9 min longer commute
Dakota City, NE 68731 80%834$79,924$205,600$156 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · older homes
Pennock, MN 56279 79%946$84,000$231,700$176 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Galva, KS 67443 78%770$88,938$220,600$137 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · older residents
Juniata, NE 68955 78%712$90,850$266,400$151 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Franklin, ID 83237 78%201$86,053$396,400$184 pricier homes ($81K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Hoolehua, HI 96729 78%2,938$59,375$231,900— cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents
Tok, AK 99780 78%2,106$64,330$218,800$162 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · older residents
Fruitland, IA 52749 76%1,100$103,424$217,700$136 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($98K less) · 7 min longer commute
Smith River, CA 95567 76%676$102,734$373,100$221 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · older residents
Fort Loramie, OH 45845 75%1,455$95,078$306,300— larger · 6 min longer commute
Fort Recovery, OH 45846 75%1,434$91,736$249,400$150 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older homes
Dayton, IN 47941 75%1,329$78,553$175,400$146 cheaper homes ($140K less) · 5 min longer commute
Inwood, IA 51240 75%849$83,929$232,600$123 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Epworth, IA 52045 75%1,114$91,667$263,500$141 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Surrey, ND 58785 75%824$105,375$317,200$168 higher income ($28K more) · 8 min longer commute
Holcomb, KS 67851 75%590$83,906$241,800$235 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · younger residents
Botkins, OH 45306 74%1,464$86,354$255,600$157 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Mc Bain, MI 49657 74%1,410$76,250$196,400$165 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Medford, MN 55049 74%1,018$90,625$247,800$166 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older residents
Belgrade, MN 56312 74%964$70,000$249,800$177 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Platte, SD 57369 74%730$78,100$237,400— cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · older 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.